Ready, set, JunkFest!

It might be her first year organizing JunkFest solo, but Missy Hafner is getting it done with a little help from her friends.

The gates to the Foster County Fairgrounds will open wide at 9 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, and a weekend of treasure hunting will commence.

Cassie Smith gracefully retired from organizing after the 2021 event, and it didn't take long for Hafner to make a decision about its future.

"I wasn't quite ready to let it go," Hafner said. "It's a big community event and an outlet for all the vendors who have wares to sell."

This year promises more than 100 vendors. Admission is still $5, and a portion of the entry fees are donated to the nonprofit organizations who assist with the event.

Those nonprofits this year include youth, such as the Foster County 4-H groups who are raising money to attend national competition and the Carrington High vo-ag classes who will prepare the grounds as a class project.

"I couldn't do it without them," Hafner said. "It's a good community skill for them."

The food building will again be manned by the Federated Church congregation. For busy shoppers, Friends of the Library will run a holding area. "People can make a donation to them, and then they'll watch all their purchases for the day so they can keep shopping," Hafner said.

Attendees can also visit the Out of the Darkness Walk booth and register for that event, which will be held Sunday.

Expect to see some new vendors on the grounds as well. There are vendors from across the Northern Plains registered, from as far away as Kansas and Iowa. To get a glimpse at the variety of goods for sale, go to the JunkFest Facebook page. Hafner is featuring different vendors everyday, so a quick scroll will yield a wealth of information.

Just down the street, the Foster County Museum will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Their location will be marked on the JunkFest map, so attendees will know just where to go.

A return appearance from known favorite "Moon Cats" will liven up the atmosphere.

Tickets are available online again this year, for those who want quicker entry. Either print tickets or save the QR code on your phone. As always, you can pay at the gate.