By JENNIFER MAIER / Community Columnist

Mark your calendars for Saturday, March 12 for the Shelby County Arts Council Celebration of the Arts Fashion Show and Luncheon. The event will be held at the First Baptist Church of Columbiana from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The show is a combined effort of the three GFCW-Alabama clubs in Shelby County: Culture Club, Vignette Club and Novella Club. The clubs rotate chairmanship, with Novella Club the organizer for this year’s event. The highly popular event is held yearly to raise money to benefit the Shelby County Arts Council.

“The Arts Luncheon Fashion Show is the largest single annual fundraiser that we have for SCAC,” said SCAC Executive Director Bruce Andrews. “The teamwork of these ladies is so impressive. They work on this event for 7 or 8 months out of the year. They are a selfless, charitable, beautiful bunch of ladies. I owe them more than I’ll ever be able to repay. Most importantly, they share our vision and mission to create and foster arts and cultural opportunities in South Shelby County.”

Tickets can be purchased from members of the three clubs, or at Busy Hands and the Shelby County Arts Council. Individual tickets are $25 and a reserved table for eight is $250.

Several popular clothing shops will be featured in the show. For adults, fashion from Cato in Chelsea, Hoover’s Bella’s, Chico’s Outlet from Leeds, and Sassy Sisters and Davis Drug, both located in Columbiana. Emcee for the event is Clare Huddleston, reporter for Fox 6 News.

Children’s clothing from Maggie Rae’s in Calera and Sew Precious in Chelsea will also be provided.

Nancy Drakos with the Fish Market in Hoover, also a member of Vignette Club, will provide a lunch of chicken, bruschetta, and fruit. Members of the three clubs will provide cheesecake for dessert.

Doors open at 10 a.m. at which time attendees can peruse a selection of art made by local artists. Lunch will start at 11 a.m. with the fashion show to begin at noon.

Models for the show are Karen Sweeney, Linda Wren, Judy Whiddon and Jennie Owens (Culture Club); Pat Ponder, Trecia Denney, Anita Davis (Novella Club); Chanda Jennings and Edna Sealy (Vignette Club). Also, Alexandria Drakos, granddaughter of Nancy Drakos, will model adult fashions.

Also modeling will be Hayley Barber, Miss Shelby County; Kyra Callens, Miss Shelby County Outstanding Teen; Isabella Powell, Miss Circle City; Sara Jo Burks, Mrs. Shelby County; and Gwen Baldwin, Mrs. Heart of Dixie.