Admission is free for Lions Club’s Toy & Craft Show on Saturday, Jan. 29

Admission is free thanks to Eddie Pierson, a Lions club member
and owner of Home Plate Sports Cards of Oskaloosa

   Hunter Thompson, then 5, is all smiles while holding a toy John Deere lawn tractor with blade and dump cart his dad, Chad, bought for him at the 2020 Montezuma Lions Toys Show. The toy show featured something for all ages. Following a year layoff due to Covid, the Lions Toy and Craft Show returns to the Montezuma Schools Central Gym on Saturday, Jan. 29 from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

By Roger Allen
 
    Montezuma Lions Club will be hosting its annual Toy and Craft Show this Saturday, Jan. 29 and to encourage the public to attend there will be no admission charge. The show will be held in the high school’s middle gym. Show hours are 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The show includes a growing number of craft vendors, along with a vast array of collectible and consumer toys and other novelties for all ages. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the school’s concession station.
   A special opportunity at the show (9 a.m. to 12 Noon only) will be an optional, free diabetes/pre-diabetes assessment screening sponsored in part by four area Lions clubs and Poweshiek County Public Health affiliated with the Grinnell hospital. 
    Everyone attending will be eligible for a door prize, with drawings being held periodically during the day. Separately, tickets may be purchased for the drawing for a grand prize, a 1/32-scale toy package that includes an Axial-Flow 8250 Case-IH Combine and two grain headers.
    According to Ron Hensel, show chairman, exhibitors had reserved more than 50 tables as of the first of this week, with more expected by set up time that begins Friday at 4:30 p.m. There will be many repeat participants plus several new vendors. Exhibitors are still being accepted and table rent is $20 per table. If interested, contact Chairman Hensel at 515-979-2705. 
   The show is a fundraiser for the Lions club. It has been an annual event since 1994 except for last year when the show was not held due to the COVID pandemic. 
    The reason the admission is free this year is because it has been paid via a donation from Home Plate Sports Cards of Oskaloosa, owned by Lions club member Eddie Pierson. The Lions encourage the public to come support the show, even if it’s only for a few minutes, as it promises to have something of interest for all ages.