This was the scene at the 50th annual Southampton Craft Show in 2019 which saw 200 exhibitors inside and outside its temporary home at the Plex in Port Elgin. Traditionally the event is held at the Coliseum in Southampton and the committee hopes for a return in 2022. Hub photo

Hub Staff

Organizers have decided to once again cancel the Southampton Craft Show for 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual event is a fundraiser for PRANCE (Pegasus Riding Association Nurturing Challenged Equestrians) and raises approximately $14,000 each year.

"We are disappointed that regulations do not allow us to gather in numbers large enough to host this event but safety must come first," read a June 21 media release. The release went on to acknowledge their 2021 vendors, many of whom had donated their show fees back to PRANCE instead of accepting a refund, raising nearly $5,000 to date.

“This generosity is really something to be applauded; so many independent businesses have really struggled over the past year and for them to make this kind of gesture, at this time, is really something,” said Craft Show Committee Head Liz Storey.

PRANCE has recently been able to re-open to the public for therapeutic riding. They have decreased their class sizes, hold them outdoors and in a well-ventilated arena and staff, volunteers and riders all wear masks and maintain social distancing.

Ann Marie Johnston, Executive Director at PRANCE, said it was heartening to see the riders return. "For individuals with special needs this past year has been even more challenging with the disruption to routines, lack of access to support and inability to participate in much-loved activities such as horseback riding," Johnston said.

This summer, 40 riders will be able to return to their weekly therapeutic riding lessons. "Thanks to the support of the Southampton Craft Show vendors, our volunteers and so many friends in the community, PRANCE is poised to come through the pandemic and looks forward to better days ahead," read the release.