Craft fair season
It’s getting to be that time of year again, at least in my hemisphere. Craft fair season! I’ll never turn down a traditional craft fair, but I’m loving the trend of fairs geared to a younger, more modern crowd. It’s also great fun to get to meet the crafters you love and admire on the web. Their wares are always even more impressive in person. And, even if you can’t go, you can still trawl the fair websites for great crafters and shops.
And neither here nor there, but the sites often have great design, like this Darger-esque illo on the Felt Club site, and the seamripper ones on Renegade Craft Fair (she’s a cofounder).
Here’s a list of what I’ve got bookmarked lately, some already over, some coming up sooner or later this year. Feel free to add others you know of in the comments.
Felt Club (Hollywood)
Renegade Craft Fair (Brooklyn and Chicago)
Bazaar Bizarre (Boston, LA, Cleveland, San Francisco)
Mutation (Savannah)
Art vs. Craft (Milwaukee)
Craftin’ Outlaws (Columbus)
I Heart Rummage (Seattle)
Art Star Craft Bazaar (Philadelphia)
Urban Craft Uprising (Seattle)
No Coast Craft-O-Rama (Minneapolis)
Handmade Market (Chicago)
Maker Faire (San Mateo)
Tranzac (Toronto)
Craftalicious (Santa Cruz)
Stitch (Austin)
Crafty Bastards (Washington DC)
Handmade Arcade (Pittsburgh)
ANT (Central Massachusetts)
Bust Holiday Craftacular (New York City)
Urban Craft Fair (Detroit)
One Night Stand(s) (Chicago)
It’s interesting, a nontrivial number of these are sponsored by Bust.
April 6th, 2006 at 1:27 pm
Wish I could say we are having another CRAFTALICIOUS fair, but due to life changes (baby on the way, moving, and new job) we aren’t able to. Thanks for thinking of us. If anyone wants to pick up where we left off, it really was a successful event. I’d love to be a vendor. ;)
April 6th, 2006 at 1:28 pm
Oh dear, I wish there were some (even 1) craft fairs aimed at the younger market in my neck of the woods. We seem to only get the folksy ones…
April 6th, 2006 at 2:17 pm
There’s also The Secret Mini Mall of Local Treasure at GalleryTK (www.gallerytk.org) in Northampton, MA. Low profile, but always (well there’s been two so far, but I think there’ll be a 3rd in the summer or fall) lots of fun and packed with awesome young artists and crafters.
April 6th, 2006 at 7:35 pm
hi there! I would like to add our indie crafters event:
http://www.artstreamstudios.com/artwear.html
We are a gallery one hour north of Boston, in New Hampshire showing over 40 indie designers and artists.
should be a blast of a day complete with a salsa band and runway show of textile works!
April 7th, 2006 at 2:36 am
There’s also the Spring Bada-Bing coming up this month (April 22) in Richmond, VA! http://www.springbadabing.com
April 7th, 2006 at 4:47 am
Don’t miss Craft Fling at the gardens! (In Austin)
Join 20+ independent artists, designers and crafters for a handmade market fest at Austin’s most unique nursery. Featuring garden themed items, jewelry, clothing, fine art, homegoods, beauty products and much more. Enjoy a massage and live music as well!
Free Admission!
Saturday April 8, 9:00-5:00
Sunday April 9, 10:00-4:00
EMERALD GARDEN NURSERY
5700 HWY 290 WEST
Austin, Texas
April 7th, 2006 at 10:14 am
Thanks for the additions! I also forgot Crafty Wonderland (Portland).
April 7th, 2006 at 10:48 am
Thanks for the blog entry..there are a few that I didn’t know about. Everyone can find these and more great shows at indiecraftshows.com
April 7th, 2006 at 3:03 pm
The UK is getting in on the act!
The Miso Funky craft fair is on Saturday 22nd April, Hillhead library, Byres Road, Glasgow.
I don;t know how many people reading this are from anywhere near Glasgow, but…
April 7th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
And don’t forget Raleigh, NC’s Rock & Shop Market, a quarterly designer market showcasing independent designers & musicians: http://www.rockandshopmarket.com
April 7th, 2006 at 10:37 pm
Don’t forget the Rock n Roll Craft Show in St. Louis June 3rd and 4th! Applications for St. Louis area crafters are being accepted on the website http://www.rocknrollcraftshow.com until April 9th!
April 12th, 2006 at 2:36 am
Ooo, our’s too! The first Detroit Urban Craft Fair is Aug. 5 with 50+ vendors.
Applications are up on the web site now: http://www.detroiturbancraftfair.com
We are super excited to be bringing the Midwest another large-scale indie craft fair. Come check us out!
February 29th, 2008 at 2:17 am
I have a great fair that is actually well juried if anyone is nearby to Connecticut. It will be taking place on Nov 23, 2008. This will be the 5th annual. You can get information and a link to the application by going to
http://www.avenueofdesign.com/craftfair/craftfairwebpage.htm
Click on the link to the PDF application on the top left. If you have any questions please email me at winterwonderlandcraftfair@yahoo.com
Hope to see some of you there.
Robin