Attend holiday craft shows for unique, custom gifts
Grand Rapids — You won’t find these kiln-fired, needle-stitched, hand-painted products at the mall.
For craft lovers, that’s the fine-tipped point.
Unique and customized wares that can be purchased — and often personalized on the spot — directly from artisans are what draw thousands to local holiday crafting events.
Kathy Richards, president of the Byron Center Fine Arts Boosters, said their 20th annual craft fair at the high school draws 3,000 attendees in six hours.
It’s a lot of crowd to maneuver if you want to visit all 180 booths featuring mostly local vendors. The Nov. 14 event needed to expand its space into the school this year to accommodate large attendance.
And there’s a reason for this craft chaos.
“There’s just a lot of variety here. I think they’re looking for something unusual, something they can’t buy in a store,” Richards said. “They get to talk to the actual person who makes it.”
The Byron Center fair, like many craft events, is a major fundraiser for local organizations.
The $2 admission fee supports the boosters who promote Byron Center schools’ performing, visual and technical arts programs.
