Finding Local Craft Fairs: Tips and Resources

  by Craft Alive | 5 minutes, 12 seconds read

Craft hobbyists and professionals alike can find everything they want at a local craft fair, from an assortment of crafts and crafting supplies to tips and insights from like-minded experts. While a relatively small industry, crafts maintain a sizeable interest and following due in no small part to the unique showcases such an event features.

In fact, craft fairs are so popular that a dozen or so of these happen all across Australia in a single week. Unfortunately, no matter how strong their love for craft-making is, aficionados can’t be everywhere at once. It’s nothing to cry about, though, as the next one isn’t too far off – and given its popularity, it isn’t about to disappear for the foreseeable future.

That said, you’d want to attend a local craft fair that resonates with the craft-making genre that strikes your fancy. Below are some helpful tips for finding one within reach and online and non-online resources that can help out.

The Internet is Your Friend

One can only imagine how people looked for fairs centuries before the advent of the Web. They probably had to rely on word of mouth or come across the fair by sheer coincidence. Now, in this digital age, all the information you need about an upcoming or ongoing fair is but a quick search away.

Primary sources are your best bet for finding craft fairs in your locality, especially if they’re part of a craft fair series. The fair’s official website will usually have details such as the list of exhibitors, a map of the venue and directions for visitors who are driving or taking public transportation to the venue.

Some of these sites take convenience a step further by allowing visitors to purchase their tickets or reserve slots for crafting classes. While fairs often allow buying tickets on-site, the online option ensures visitors early entry into the event.

Secondary sources include event listing sites and social media pages, but there’s the risk of being fed inaccurate information. If these sources are all you have to work on regarding certain craft fairs, make an effort to verify their credibility. For example, social media sites like Facebook tack signs that prove a page’s authenticity (i.e., Verified logo).

Local news sites are also great sources of craft fair information, seeing that fair organisers need to spread the word about their craft fair quickly. The risk of inaccuracy is low because these sites work on press releases straight from the organisers, and it’s a reporter’s duty to deliver accurate news at all times.

Search Based on Genre

Craft fairs showcase a wealth of craft genres, though the selection depends on the exhibits and classes. Consider shortlisting upcoming events based on the genre you’re interested in, ranging from scrapbooking to machine embroidery. You don’t have to be limited to a single genre.

Aside from general craft fairs, there are also niche ones worth considering. These include but aren’t limited to embroidery, papercraft, quilting, felting and scrapbooking. A closer look at the exhibitor list and available craft classes, if provided, can give you a clear picture of what the craft fair is all about. After that, check the schedule to see if you can make it.

If choosing genres is proving too hard, focus on finding general local craft shows and fairs in the meantime. Their extensive selection, even if not encompassing every genre, will ensure you’ll at least be interested in a genre that you never realised is fascinating.

Examine the Exhibitors and Classes

A craft fair is only as successful as the professionals attending it to showcase their craft and share their knowledge with the world. Naturally, long-standing and well-known craft fairs like CraftAlive invite major names in the craft-making scene, as well as presenting local retailers and groups. These events are usually held at the city level across Australia including major regional areas and capital cities.

Meanwhile, community and shire-level craft fairs are stepping stones for up-and-coming local artisans and craft professionals. They’re much smaller in terms of the number of exhibits and visitors, but it doesn’t make them any less worth your attention. After all, inspiration sometimes comes from the least conspicuous places.

If the event provides a list of exhibitors and craft classes, take time to review it and learn more about who’s in it. Again, the Internet is your friend, so search for the names on the Web and visit their respective websites or pages.

Consider Online Craft Fairs

Not all craft enthusiasts live close enough to an upcoming or ongoing craft fair, and not all places even hold one. Flying or a really long drive to a craft fair is an option, but not all can afford to do so. If only the fair can come to these people.

Thanks to technology, such an event is made possible with the online craft fair. Held on its own interactive platform, this fair enables people from all over Australia to participate as long as they have a stable Internet connection. It features everything a brick-and-mortar craft fair has but can be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s home.

Resources for Finding Craft Fairs

Here’s a complete list of resources to go through whenever you need to look for a craft fair near you. Take note of using sound judgment when perusing their contents to steer clear of questionable information.

• Craft fair official websites (e.g., CraftAlive)
• Craft fair official social media pages
• Event listing websites (e.g., 10Times)
• Local news sites or blogs
• Local government websites and social media
• Online craft-making and craft enthusiast groups
• Forums and discussion boards (e.g., Reddit)
• Craft fair search results (use the right keywords like “craft fair near me”)
• Bulletin boards in churches or community centres
• Neighbours, close friends and fellow craft enthusiasts
• Local craft store owners

You can find most craft fair information on the Internet, but asking around the community can help you find small fairs that don’t get as much exposure. As for online craft fairs, it’s advisable to stick to official sources to be sure you’re heading to the correct platform and not somewhere dubious.