5 Fun Events For People Who Love Crafts
Whether you make crafts yourself, love to decorate your home with handmade goods, or both, going to a craft fair can be a fun experience. Events like the ones listed here feature talented creators showcasing and selling everything from pottery to clothes. If you're looking for an event close to home, or an excuse to travel a bit, consider visiting one of them. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
Fairs & Festivals For Craft Lovers
| Name | Location(s) |
|---|---|
| The Strawberry Swing | Kansas City, MO |
| Jackalope Arts | Pasadena, CA; Burbank, CA; & Denver, CO |
| American Craft Exposition | Glencoe, IL |
| Piedmont Park Summer Arts & Crafts Festival | Atlanta, GA |
| The Big Crafty | Asheville, NC |
8 Tips For Being More Creative
- Ask questions
- Learn more about any topic you find interesting
- Bring a sketch pad with you when you go out
- Make time to play, no matter how old you get
- Keep a journal
- Don't be afraid to take risks
- Carry a camera with you
- Do something creative every day, even if it's small
Arts Education in America
- 91% of Americans agree that the arts are "part of a well-rounded education"
- 93% to 94% believe that students in elementary, middle, and high school should receive an education in the arts
- 74% agree that the arts help students to perform better academically
- Nationally, more than 40% of secondary schools did not require arts courses for graduation for the 2009-2010 school year
- Federal funding for arts & humanities is around $250 million a year, while the National Science Foundation is funded at around the $5 billion mark
- Arts and music education programs are mandatory in countries that rank near the top for math and science test scores, like Japan, Hungary, and the Netherlands
- According to a nationwide study, 63% of eighth-graders took a music class, and 42% took a visual arts class
- Students in the Northeast were twice as likely (68%) to have taken a visual arts class than students in the South (35%)
- Students eligible for free and reduced-price lunch, which is often used as a proxy to identify low-income students, scored an average of 26 points lower in music than those not eligible and 22 points lower in visual arts
- In the District of Columbia, 75% of white students took an art course, compared to 49% of black students
Is There A Difference Between Art And Craft?
In Depth
The world of crafts is as vast as it is eclectic, full of DIY innovators and fine artisans using an array of media to bring all kinds of unique ideas to life. Whether you're into vintage home decor or stylish modern wearables, there are plenty of places to go to find incredible handmade goods created with care and passion by this devoted community of makers. In no particular order, here are five fun events around the country perfect for craft lovers.
Showing up at #1 is The Strawberry Swing, an independent craft fair in Kansas City, Missouri. Offering a fair for every season on the calendar, it features vintage and handmade vendors who specialize in media such as jewelry, ceramics, clothing, and fiber art. As well as shopping, attendees can enjoy local music, various food trucks, and do-it-yourself crafts.
Driven by a strong community focus, The Strawberry Swing uses each of its fairs to raise funds for a non-profit organization. It also dedicates opportunities to youth through its "Lil Maker" area, which allows kid entrepreneurs to display and sell their creations. Due to its commitment to honoring handcrafted, local art, The Strawberry Swing has been named one of the best indie craft fairs in the country.
Driven by a strong community focus, The Strawberry Swing uses each of its fairs to raise funds for a non-profit organization.
For #2 we have Jackalope Arts. With seasonal events in Pasadena, Burbank, and Denver, this indie artisan festival is predicated on the vision of bringing creators and the community together. Each of its fairs boasts more than 150 trendsetting local makers and designers of handmade artistry, who focus on everything from housewares to fashion and decor. The shopping experience is complemented by local food and drink, entertainment, and artisan-led classes and workshops.
Jackalope's most frequented city is Pasadena, where it hosts fairs three times per year in the city's Central Park. Event offerings at the two-day fest include music performances and a range of DIY crafting demonstrations. In Burbank, Jackalope curates the annual Downtown Burbank Arts Festival, which features renowned illustrators and special effects animators, plus street painters and cosplayers. Finally, Denver is the location of the fair's winter holiday market.
At #3 is the American Craft Exposition, held at the Chicago Botanic Garden. One of the nation's premier fine craft showcases, ACE brings together over 140 artisans who produce luxury collections and singular, museum-quality art. The juried work on display encompasses twelve media categories, some of which include glass, furniture, metal, and jewelry. Presented by The Auxiliary of NorthShore University HealthSystem, ACE raises funds to support important medical initiatives.
The juried work on display encompasses twelve media categories, some of which include glass, furniture, metal, and jewelry.
To foster the participation of creators in the early stages of their careers, ACE offers an Emerging Artist category, which is open to first-time exhibitors who have been practicing their craft for less than six years. Another notable feature of the expo is its Benefit Preview Party, which gives patrons the ability to browse and buy art before the Exposition publicly opens. Featuring hors d'oeuvres and cocktails, the party also allows a more intimate setting for guests to chat with creators.
For #4 we come to the Piedmont Park Summer Arts & Crafts Festival. Organized by the Atlanta Foundation for Public Spaces, this two-day outdoor event features around 250 vendors working in photography, painting, sculpture, and more. It also offers artist demonstrations, a kids' play area, acoustic music, games, and myriad food and beverage options with healthy alternatives.
Designed as an event for artists and by artists, the Festival strives to give back to the community through the nurturing of creative expression. It encourages makers to have a voice in its production and operations, and seeks to be inclusive of those from both the region and the country at large. Additionally, the event benefits a local, jury-selected scholarship or organization that is devoted to the arts.
Designed as an event for artists and by artists, the Festival strives to give back to the community through the nurturing of creative expression.
Finally, arriving at #5 is The Big Crafty, a fair in Asheville, North Carolina. Held twice a year, it presents a spirited celebration of human-scale creativity with a focus on handmade commerce, family fun, and enriching artistic dialogue. Representing the heart and dynamic breadth of the independent arts community, it showcases makers whose innovative works encompass everything from paintings to pottery and body products.
Started in 2008 as a way of reviving the tradition of the community bazaar, The Big Crafty has taken place at such locations as the Grey Eagle, the Asheville Art Museum, Pack Square Park, and Asheville's U.S. Cellular Center. The event's founders are also responsible for co-producing the former Big Love Fest, which had a similar focus on celebrating independently-owned businesses and their contributions to the city's thriving culture and economy.
