Gardening items remain popular at JunKin' CuZins
May 28—About 55 vendors are expected to be on hand for the 11th annual JunKin' CuZins, which returns to Jamestown on Saturday, June 4.
The event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Stutsman County Fairgrounds. Admission is free.
"It's just fun to get a bunch of vendors together that love promoting their business, promoting small businesses, locally-owned businesses ...," said Kama Hoovestol, representing the JunKin' CuZins organizers.
Gardening is one of the most consistently popular interests for people who attend the event, Hoovestol said, including outside decor and planters.
Many of the vendors are from Jamestown, Hoovestol said. There are also vendors from around North Dakota and Minnesota. They will offer repurposed and upcycled items, jewelry, junk, antiques, raw junk, women's and kids' boutique clothing, purses, clutches and baked goods.
Happy Camper will sell coffee in the morning and two vendors will sell food for lunch on the north side of the three buildings that are used for the event. JunKin' CuZins organizers will be located in the 4-H building and other vendors will be located in the poultry and dairy barns.
Some vendors are also expected to be outside near the buildings, Hoovestol said.
"We like to keep it within about 55 to 60 vendors," she said. "We like to keep it smaller so people can shop and just check out all the booths, so small is good for us."
JunKin' CuZins organizers estimate attendance for the event at a few thousand people, Hoovestol said.
"It brings in a pretty good crowd," she said. "We've had a long line to the end of the fairgrounds before by 8:15. So people start lining up early ... they like to be there first to check everything out."
Joanie Taxis and Lorene Iverson, Hoovestol's mother, founded JunKin' CuZins back in 2012 with several others, but are the only remaining original founders. The event has been held every year since then except for one year during the coronavirus pandemic.
Hoovestol said she thinks the event appeals to people because it's fun to see what the vendors will bring.
"I think people like things that aren't always brand new, that you can take something like a chair and change it into a bench," she said. "I think people like the uniqueness of the vendors, what they bring, so that's kind of fun to see all the different variety of items that they bring that come from junk and something new. Or just repaint something and it looks way different than it was."
The current organizers of JunKin' CuZins in addition to Iverson, Taxis and Hoovestol are Chantel Harr and Denise Hallwachs.
JunKin' CuZins is held on the first Saturday in June. The 2023 event is expected to be on June 3.
--------------------------------------------------------
What: JunKin' CuZins
When: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 4
Where: Stutsman County Fairgrounds
Admission: free
