BALATON — Balaton’s 30th annual Holiday Craft Show will be taking place without one of its primary organizers this year.

After longtime organizer Cheryl Peterson died in May at the age of 69, Kelly Thomas, Julie Erickson and Brad Klukas vowed to keep the tradition going strong — like Peterson did after Balaton Public School closed its doors nearly 20 years ago.

“We were asked by Cheryl Peterson’s family if we could carry that on this year,” Thomas said. “So that’s what we’re doing. The three of us are helping get this done in her honor.”

The milestone craft show is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Balaton Community Center and KirPatrick’s Pub and Grill. There is no cost to attend.

“Cheryl was involved with the event from the start when it was at the school,” Thomas said. “When it was no longer a school, she kept it going. It’s crazy that she kept it going, but the big thing is that she ran it like she was going to run it forever. She didn’t have a lot of notes, so it’s been interesting to try and figure things out. Fortunately, you just put the word out there and people start contacting you.”

Thomas said between 400 and 500 people attend the Holiday Craft Show each year. The trio of organizers are keeping the event like Peterson would have wanted.

“We have 40 vendors or crafters signed up,” Thomas said. “That’s about what Cheryl had. We’re trying to keep it exactly like Cheryl had, to honor her this year.”

Attendees will find a large variety of items available for purchase.

“There are baked good, handmade and knit things and barnwood items,” Thomas said. “Then we basically have all the typical vendors out there, from Tupperware to Mary Kay, Scentsy, Paparazzi, Thirty-One, LuLaRoe — basically everyone I can think of — along with jams and jellies, wool mittens, children’s items and stained glass. Some of it is geared toward Christmas, but not all of it.”

There are hourly drawings for door prizes. Thomas said that KirPatrick’s is also serving rolls and coffee in the morning and then a couple soup and sandwich options as well.

“The 30th annual event is from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Balaton Community Center and overflow at KirPatrick’s,” she said. “There’s wine tasting from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at KirPatrick’s.”

While the Balaton Chamber of Commerce is helping out with the Holiday Craft Show, it is not specially a Chamber event. Across the street at Denise’s Tax and Accounting, however, a Chamber event — The Kids’ Christmas Corner — is taking place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday in conjunction with the craft show.

“They used to have the Christmas Night in Balaton in December,” Thomas said. “This year, The Kids’ Christmas Corner is a place where kids can go to pick out gift for moms and dads. It’s inexpensive items. It’s where kids can buy affordable things — from 25 cents to $2 — for their parents.”