Student booths at a Knight's Faire.

People wouldn’t normally associate middle schools with community art centers. But why not? They have the space, the supplies, and boundless creative energy. On October 15, DeLong Middle School’s A Knight’s Faire showed how student entrepreneurs, professional artists, and art appreciators from within the community could join together to create an impressive atmosphere of collaboration and celebration.

 At A Knight’s Faire, DeLong’s gym was bustling with people of all ages enjoying art events, kids in Costa Rican attire, young entrepreneurs manning booths as well as local painters, woodcarvers, jewelry-makers, and caricature artists. A concession stand selling hot treats invited visitors to make a day of it. 

 Young DeLong entrepreneurs created art and products to display within their booths, created impressive displays, and completed the transaction right down to writing the receipt. Student-made products included ceramic plates, soap dishes, bird feeders, photo holders, wands, wooden signs, seasoned pumpkins seeds, and environmentally safe hand warmers.

 Kathy Bareis, event coordinator and DeLong art teacher, had high aspirations for this year’s event and has already begun looking forward to next year. All money made is donated to student groups and local charities, which is a positive takeaway, but A Knight’s Faire is more than a typical craft sale or fundraiser. “It’s about building relationships,” Bareis said. “We have amazing artisans working side-by-side with the kids. And I’m so grateful to the artisans. So many times in school we talk about dead artists, but here we have real working artists making a living in the community. They are leaders in entrepreneurship.”

 For student entrepreneurs and artists, A Knight’s Faire was a chance to have an audience larger than the classroom teacher. Community members browsed around, asked questions, and made purchases. That’s what elevated the experience for the kids. “There’s a different atmosphere in the air,” said DeLong eighth grader Carter Mangus. “It’s not just school—it’s more public, more energetic. It’s more hands-on. Everybody’s doing something. Even if you were working a booth, you were explaining things to people. And it shows everybody what DeLong can do as a school.”

With the upcoming referendum, it’s important to open up our schools, where the community can see the kids at their creative best.