East Lyme — White tents lined the green field around Town Hall Sunday as hundreds of locals and visitors viewed and purchased work by juried artists.

Browsing through some art prints, Ella Freed, 17, said she was at the event with her mom.

"It's nice not buying from a big company and seeing what artists bring to the table, knowing everything is made by hand," Freed said.

The Niantic Lions Club, founded in 1949, held its 61st annual Arts and Craft Show from Saturday to Sunday with more than 130 vendors to raise funds for multiple charitable organizations and community efforts. Since its inception in 1917, the Lions Club International has strived to serve the community and in particular those with low vision issues.

Paul Swetland, a member of the club for seven years, said it has a list of about 20 organizations it regularly donates to each year, such as CT Eye Research Foundation, East Lyme Care and Share, Special Olympics and more. He said the club expects to raise about $30,000 and have 20,000 guests over the course of the weekend.

The club raises money by charging vendors fees and selling kettle corn products, an endeavor unique to the club, said Swetland. On Sunday, the club had a station selling and making the kettle corn.

Swetland said what makes the show special from other arts and craft shows is the fact that the vendors are juried, meaning they have to submit data and photos of their products for review to see if they meet the club's standards for handmade and hand-drawn art. He said the club has a waiting list for jewelry makers but are on the look out for younger artists for future shows.

Sunday's show featured a wide variety of arts and crafts such as jewelry, photography and sculptures. A collection of food trucks offered guests delights from Captain Scott's Lobster Dock, Curb Your Appetite, Par4 Curbside Catering, El Bori and RusticStreats.

Bernard Domingo of Westchester, N.Y., said this was his second year as a vendor in the Niantic show. Domingo makes and sells wire sculptures using recycled materials such as soda cans, plastic and glass beads to "minimize throwing things in the garbage," he said.

Originally from Zimbabwe, Domingo said he has been making sculptures since he was a boy, turning it into a hobby and now a business.

"I love this because this is me," Domingo said, waving his hand to the collection of sculptures he crafted at his booth.

Now retired and selling her work full-time, Robin Parker of Bozrah has been in the business of quilting for the past 29 years. The quilts, rope bowls and "quillows," or quilts that turn into pillows, at her booth were all made by her. In her second year at the Niantic Lions Club's Art and Craft Show, Parker said it was a great show with helpful organizers.

"They do great work work with all the organizations they help for charity and that's important today," Parker said. "People are in need."

j.vazquez@theday.com