Reimagining the annual Fair

31/8/2025

The 2024 Advent Fair was a success in many ways and also suffered from many problems. There are two ways out of a situation fraught with problems: focus on the problems or focus on the possibilities.

Tony Fornali introduced us to the concepts postulated in a book called Blue Ocean Strategy, published in 2005, in a workshop on Sunday, 31 August. He introduced us to the meaning of the word 'ínspiration', to breathe in spirit.

We were then introduced to a collection of crafted items purchased at Advent Fairs in the mid-1970s by Michael and Barbara Krösche, with the question: What is worth preserving?

This is the idea of Blue Ocean Strategy; focus on what is worth preserving and discard what is draining energy. As an example, Tony reminded us of travelling circuses that were part of the childhood and family experience in the first half of the 20th century. Then, society's thinking towards captive animals and animal entertainment shifted, and circuses closed down. One group realised that there is an aspect of the circus that still entertains and inspires, and Cirque du Soleil was born, which still wows audiences around the world.

The one element that kept repeating throughout the conversations was the 'glint in the eyes of children'. Rev. Vicke von Behr added an important thought that we are working in this endeavour with the angel of our community. This angel is connected with the angel of each Waldorf School and works with the guardian angels of the children who are seeking their way into a meaningful connection with life on earth. We can grow our annual fair through the angelic realm when this becomes our focus.

Many elements make up a successful whole. Many ingredients make up a successful dish. Tony, with his family, had set up fourteen preparation stations in the garden. Fourteen groups or individuals prepared each of the 14 ingredients that made up a pasta sauce. Together these fourteen ingredients, through the intervention of a chef, produced a delicious meal that was shared by all.

The 2025 Advent Fair will consist of various individual 'ingredients', each 'ingredient' taken charge of by an individual or group of people. Only the 'ingredients' that are brought by an inspired individual or group will make it into the Advent Fair. The co-ordinator of the Advent Fair will be Pam Klette, who will take the 'ingredients' and add them together in a meaningful way to offer a renewed experience to both the participants and the visitors.

The date of the Advent Fair is Saturday, 29 November 2025.