The fair festivities will begin with the opening of the second annual art show on Friday night. Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer will open the art show featuring works by students and 12 artists at 7pm.

Art show organiser Janet Mackintosh said the artists involved this year were “locally based”.

“They are from both the Artisan Collective and Port Stephens Community Arts Centre, with a number of college teachers also contributing,” she said.

“A total of 12 artists from a variety of mediums will exhibit their works, with a portion of the funds going towards the school. Mediums include photography, resin, acrylics, oils, watercolours, textiles and mixed media.”

The artists include Scott Ireland, Ileana Clarke, Anna Webster, Peter Masters, Fran Davidson, Maria Hine, Joana Johnston, Robyn Killen, Nada O'Loughlin, Michelle Cocking, Tonya Trott and Craig Saunders.

The show will be open to see in the Chris Walkling Theatre, located at the Salamander Bay school, between 11am and 4pm on Saturday – the same day of the annual fair.

The fair is the school’s biggest fundraiser for the year. Proceeds from this year’s fair will go to helping the school buy course equipment for senior students.

“It’s a great day,” the school’s marketing officer Mandy Eggins said. “There’s lot of activities, food, student performances, community groups and fun. It’s a proper fair. Junior school students are putting on a sideshow alley, which is always lots of fun.”

The fair includes market stalls, rides, arts and crafts, show bags, face painting, music and dance, raffles, food, drinks and books sales.

The celebrations is held each year to mark the anniversary of the school opening in Salamander Bay in 1995.

“The Founders Day Fair is huge,” Ms Eggins said. “It seems fairly packed most of the day, which is exciting. It’s a really fun day.”