Arts and crafts is all about the skill and talent in “making things”, whether they be traditional crafts that have not changed their execution in years, or popular handicrafts, or simply making things for the sheer fun of it all.
A lot of arts and crafts have become increasingly popular and enthusiasts take the skills and talents of the crafters very seriously. The great number of arts and crafts events and festivals across the USA, from Connecticut to Mississippi are proof of this success.
CONNECTICUT
Annual Craft Expo
July
Greater New Haven, Connecticut
Attracting more then 14,000 artists, collectors and visitors from across the USA, the Annual Craft Expo is one of the state’s oldest (more than 51 years) and finest outdoor juried shows.
Craft Expo is known for its one-of-a-kind work of the highest quality handmade by the artists, all of whom have been accepted in the show by a panel of professional peers,
Attractions include a food court, craft activities for youngsters attending the show, and a silent auction.
For more information visit: www.guilfordartcenter.org/expo.html
INDIANA
Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival
July / August
Nappanee
Celebrating 46 years, Amish Acres Arts and Crafts Festival has been ranked as the 7th Best Classic and Contemporary Craft Show in the Country for 2008, the highest honor for any Indiana show, by Sunshine Artist Magazine.
One of the American Bus Association top 100 festivals for 2008, the Amish Acres Arts & Crafts Festival features 350 artists and crafters from around the country, live entertainment on three stages including country bands, magicians and square dancing, and festival foods.
For more information visit : www.amishacres.com/arts_and_crafts_festival.html
MISSISSIPPI
Canton Flea Market
May
Canton, Mississippi
The famous Canton Flea Market attracts over 1,000 superior artists and craftsmen nationally to showcase handcrafted items such as pottery, jewelry, and unique arts and crafts.
Handmade arts and crafts are located on the Courthouse grounds and the adjacent Union and Center Streets. Additional craft exhibits are on the church properties on Peace Street, at the Old Jail Museum behind City Hall and on two blocks of East Fulton Street.
For more information visit: www.cantontourism.com
NEW HAMPSHIRE
League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair
August
Newbury
The country’s oldest craft fair, the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen’s Fair is one of the finest, most prestigious craft events in the country today. This annual nine-day event features both traditional and contemporary fine craft work by state-juried members of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.
Features include more than 200 individual craft booths, the museum-quality Living With Craft Exhibition, the new Sculpture Garden Exhibition, demonstrations, children's, teen & adult Workshops.
The Fair always begins on the first Saturday in August.
For more information visit: www.nhcrafts.org/craftsmens_fair/fair_home.htm
NORTH CAROLINA
Seagrove Pottery Festival
November
Seagrove, North Carolina
The annual Seagrove Pottery Festival is the largest pottery festival of its type and the only annual gathering of potters under one roof. It is also the only time of the year that most of the Seagrove area potters sell their pots at one location.
The event will include demonstrations, displays, auction, and food vendors.
For more information visit: www.seagrovepotteryheritage.com
NORTH DAKOTA
Grand Cities Art Fest
June
Grand Forks
Hundreds of quality art and craft vendors line both sides of the Red River on the beautiful Greenway.
Highlights include a variety of concessions and live musical entertainment featuring more than 130 artists & crafters showcasing a variety of arts from from paintings to porcelain and textiles, 30 food vendors offering everything from rib eye steak sandwiches to cotton candy, land live music featuring the likes of the Polish National Alliance Dancers and The North River Ramblers,
For more information visit: www.downtowngrandcities.org
OHIO
Columbus Arts Festival
June
Columbus, Ohio
Central Ohio’s premier community event has an eclectic selection of nearly 300 national and international visual artists, craftspeople and continuous live entertainment.
For more information visit: www.gcac.org
RHODE ISLAND
Gaspee Days Arts and Crafts Festival
May
Pawtuxet Village, Rhode Island
The annual Arts and Crafts Festival attracts approximately 50,000 people a day for three days browsing and purchasing the wares of the 150-200 craft exhibitors along Narragansett Parkway in Warwick.
Attractions include a professional food court, free family music, entertainment, and pony rides for the children located in Pawtuxet Park.
For more information visit: www.gaspee.com
VERMONT
Vermont Open Studio Weekend
Memorial Day Weekend
Statewide, Vermont
Vermont’s natural scenic beauty is enhanced each spring when the work of Vermont artists and craftspeople can be seen firsthand during Vermont’s annual Open Studio Weekend.
Open Studio Weekend is a statewide celebration of the visual arts and the creative process in which Vermont artists and craftspeople invite the public to visit them in their studios during Memorial Day Weekend.
More than 260 sites will be open during this event, with more than 285 artists and artisans participating.
For more information visit: www.vermontcrafts.com
Vermont Fine Furniture & Woodworking Festival
September
Woodstock, Vermont
Vermont’s Fine Furniture & Woodworking Festival showcases Vermont artists-in-wood and their commitment to keeping traditional skills and crafts alive.
Guests mingling and shopping see that the exhibitors live their lives with tools of the craft in hand. World-class creativity and craftsmanship are unparalleled in the exquisite array of Vermont-made furniture and wood products. Browse the displays, make purchases, chat with woodworkers, or see them at work carving, turning, and crafting their wares.
For more information visit: www.vermontwoodfestival.org
WEST VIRGINIA
Mountain State Arts & Crafts Fair
July
Ripley, West Virginia
The Mountain State Art and Craft Fair has been a West Virginia family tradition since 1963.
Known widely as the “Grandaddy of Art and Craft Fairs” in the region, the fair has served as model for how to execute a professional and successful arts and craft fair event.
Now over 45 years old, the fair introduces attendees to the best of world-class artisan exhibitors and their excellent craftsmanship, as well as entertainers, contests and fine foods.
For more information visit: www.msacf.com
