Calling all arts and crafts enthusiasts! If you’ve been aching to attend an exciting craft fair this season, we’ve got you covered. At FestivalNet, we bring you dozens of craft show listings to ensure you can find something that’s right up your alley! Whether you’re looking to buy handmade wood crafts, create some jazzy accessories, or have a wholesome arts and crafts-themed day with your kids, you can easily browse through our craft show yellow pages to stumble upon the perfect event that checks off all the boxes. We regularly update our listings to ensure you get access to vetted, safe, and exciting events in your city. Go solo, take your friends and/or family, plan a fun day for your kids, or set up a crafts date with your partner! Either way, you’ll manage to explore the local crafts scene and have a fun, memorable, creative, and exciting day!
Craft shows and fairs have historically been ridiculed as places where amateurs come to sell their less-than-stellar works. It may have been true decades ago, but things have changed a lot. As big brands and corporations like Amazon have taken the concept of mass-production to another level, more and more people are turning to craft show events to find personalized, unique items.
Whether you’re a craftsperson or artisan, or just someone obsessed with handmade products, the following annual events are a must-attend for you.
Woodstock-New Paltz Art & Crafts Fair Fall Show, New Paltz (New York)
Since 1982, this show has been hosting the country’s exceptional artists and craftspeople. This is one of the only craft fairs where festival goers can interact with the artists personally and learn the story behind their creations.
More than 200 juried exhibitors display visually stunning works in metal-smithing, torch-blown jewelry making, wood-turning, soap-making, and so much more. You can also buy small-batch, handcrafted personal care products, and specialty items.
Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Festival, Mound City (Kansas)
Mound City is a pretty small town with about 1,000 people – except for the month of October when over 10,000 handmade lovers descend here each year. The Sugar Mound Arts and Crafts Festival was first held in 1971, and since then, it has taken a life of its own.
What began as a small fair displaying artwork by Linn County artists, the festival now features more than 400 booths offering all kinds of handcrafted goods from exhibitors based in Nebraska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, and even California. Home décor items, jewelry, jams, and jellies are just some of the things you can expect to find here.
Craft + Design, Richmond (Virginia)
For almost six decades, this juried, museum-quality craft show has welcomed artists to offer their wares, ranging from metal, jewelry, glass, and furniture, to wood, paper, decorative fiber, ceramics, basketry, and much, much more. Nearly 10,000 people attended the event in 2019, and with the post-pandemic life getting back to normal, even more are expected this year.
More than 150 artists will be gathering here this year to compete in juried competitions to win cash awards in precious metals, innovative use of traditional craft materials, glass, fiber, contemporary design, ceramics, and recycled materials.
Moss Rock Festival, Hoover (Alabama)
The Moss Rock Festival has somehow managed to combine art, imagination, nature, and innovation for over 15 years. As you stroll through the Hoover Metropolitan Complex (this year’s venue), you can enjoy works of art and crafts from over 100 artists. What makes these artists different from others is their stunning ability to play with nature in their pieces and work with elements like glass, clay, and wood.
KVMR Celtic Festival And Marketplace, Grass Valley (California)
This annual Celtic festival is the longest-running community event held at the Nevada County Fairgrounds each fall. It was started in 1996 to allow renaissance fair devotees, music lovers, Celtic lore enthusiasts, and vendors to come together and show off their wares. The stunning Sierra Foothills provide the perfect picturesque backdrop to the marketplace, making it look like something right out of a postcard.
The KVMR is a big production with 6 demonstrations and 5 musical stages, along with weekend-long arts classes on topics like songwriting, dance, magic, and Celtic music. More than 7,000 people are expected to attend this year’s festival; they will also live stream broadcast through the official KVMR website.
KVMR organizers continue to bring international performers to Nevada County and showcase an incredible lineup of regional talent including performing artists, dancers, and musicians. They also organize lessons and workshops to provide musicians of every age and skill level a chance to learn from each other in a fun and collaborative environment.
Don’t Make These 7 Mistakes at a Craft Fair
As a new seller at a craft show, there are certain things you can do that will make or break the success of your booth. Based on our members’ experiences, make sure you avoid the following mistakes whether you’re a newcomer or a veteran:
Don’t Try to “Wing It”
You get to the show and you realize you forgot the shopping bags for customers, or part of your display, or something else. First-timers often make the mistake of not preparing well enough before the event starts. To make sure it doesn’t happen to you, create a list of everything you will need at the show and tick them off one by one as you load each item into your car.
Don’t Underestimate Your Booth’s Look
Some vendors don’t realize that their booth itself is a product. If it looks boring or nothing makes it stand out, passersby won’t give it a second glance. Your pop-up shop should represent your brand, so get as creative as you want to express that. Display your products in a fun way and use bright colors to decorate. You may want to check out Pinterest for some really cool craft booth display ideas. It's worth a shot!
Don’t Appear Rude or Unfriendly
We get it, putting your hard work on display for everyone to judge can be nerve-racking. Many artists consider themselves bad at “selling”, but keep in mind that if you don’t talk or engage with people, you will come off as unfriendly. You won’t build any rapport or lasting relationships with customers either.
This doesn’t mean you have to be extra chatty or pretend to be a social butterfly if you’re not. Just say hello to everyone who walks into your booth and make eye contact with them. If someone is browsing through your pieces, try striking up a conversation. This could be a general comment about the show or asking the person if there’s anything, in particular, they are looking for.
Sitting in the back saying nothing, talking on your phone, or talking to the other employee/friend who is there to help you out will come across as incredibly rude. As they say, you catch more bees with honey than with…silence.
Don’t Overwhelm (or Underwhelm) Customers with Your Offerings
If you are displaying too many products and they are not well organized, your booth will look overwhelming and cluttered. If you have too few items, visitors won’t feel like coming in because they will have quickly browsed everything by taking one glance. You see, it’s a game of balance. This means filling the table and shelves but in a way that invites people to look around.
Don’t Forget to Keep Change for Cash-Paying Customers
If you are only accepting cash and you’re not carrying enough change, you’re going to have to bid that sale adieu. Keep sufficient change in your cash box before the show begins, and take stock of it halfway through in case you have to grab some more via an ATM or shopping.
Don’t Forget (or Hide) the Price Tags
This has to be one of the biggest mistakes artists usually make. If a piece is not priced, most people will assume that it is exorbitantly priced. Others will be too shy to ask how much it costs. Make sure every single product is clearly priced.
Don’t Be Cheap (Offer Freebies or Special Deals)
Can you think of someone who hates a bargain? Neither can we. People love to be able to brag to others about the deals they got. This can be tricky because as an artist, you don’t want to lose money. Pertaining to this, having a few items on sale always encourages bargain-lovers to buy. You can also offer deals and discounts. For example, if the customer spends $100, they get a free product, like a unique pendant or home décor item. This might persuade customers who are close to hitting that mark to buy a few smaller pieces just to get that free item.
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FestivalNet contributors have been sharing their experiences and tips for years on our Blog. Browse the articles to learn from the pros about these topics and more!
Explore More Events with FestivalNet
Are you a hobbyist, a DIYer, or a skilled artist looking to set up a booth at a craft show? FestivalNet allows you to find the most relevant festivals, fairs, and expos near you – forget about spending many hours on the internet to find a good event to connect with potential customers; we have done the work for you. You can easily search for events by postal code, category, or distance.
Once you find something that looks like a good fit, we will give you all the information you need about that event to make sure your booth is a success. We offer different levels of membership depending on your goals. If you want to learn everything from how to apply for a particular event, to whether your product will be a solid fit for a certain market, to how to start making a profit, we recommend joining our Pro Membership.
