Sandi Sox of the Polk County Cooperative Extension Service says she is assisting with the festivals this year, and is looking for local artists, craft artists, and other vendors to participate. &uot;We want to make this year&squo;s celebrations in Columbus the biggest and best ever and to emphasize the local flavor of Polk County artisans,&uot; says Sandi Sox, extension agent for Family & Consumer Services.Area residents who make pottery, grow plants or herbs, paint, sew, do needlework, make jams or jellies, make soap, do woodworking, etc. are invited to showcase their products at two local events attended by thousands. The celebrations are not limited to Polk County residents, but Sox says organizers want a strong Polk County showing.The Fabulous Fourth is on Friday, and the Columbus Day Celebration will be on Saturday, October 11. Both events are held in downtown Columbus.A designated craft area will be set up on the block in front of the The Pattie Inn and Watson&squo;s Appliances with 15&squo; x 15&squo; spaces available for each event. Mark your calendars, and please plan on joining us for these two exciting and crowd-pleasing events. Let&squo;s show our stuff,&uot; says Sox. To register for a space, or for more information, contact Daniel Hallstrom, Columbus Town Planner at 894-8236 or e-mail danny@columbusnc.com. You may also contact Sandi Sox at 828-894-8218 or sandi_sox@ncsu.edu for general information.