There are now numerous craft fairs held on both sides of the pond. The trick is to either narrow down the best ones or to pick those that are local to where you live; either approach works fine!
In this article, we first breakdown some of the more interesting craft events in the U.S. for 2020 and then switch to the other side of the pond to see what craft fares are happening in the UK.
Let’s dive in…
Craft Fairs in the U.S. During 2020
Oddities & Curiosities Expo – The Del Mar Fairgrounds in San Diego bravely holds the local Oddities and Curiosities Expo event on January 18th. There are multiple events as the expo tours the U.S. with dates announced throughout 2020. Certainly, you’ll find highly unusual arts and crafts here and a host of other oddities too.
Carolina FiberFest 2020 – The popular North Carolina State Fair up in Raleigh features hand-spun, felted, and crocheted works within the fibre and garment arts. Head over there between the 13th and 14th of March to catch all the action.
Smithsonian Craft Show – The National Building Museum in Washington D.C. is the place to find the 37th annual show. It’s being held between the 22nd and 26th of April. For American handcrafts, it’s all here – from glass to calfskin to basketry and everything in between. Over 120 craftspeople will be exhibiting or holding talks.
Bead & Button Show 2020 – The Wisconsin Centre over in Milwaukee hosts the Bead & Button Show between the 31st of May and the 7th of June. The show features textile craftspeople, button and bead exhibitors, plus gem collectors too. There are also many classes available here for those people wanting to learn more.
Summer Trade Show 2020 – The Huntington Convention Centre of Cleveland holds the largest needle arts tradeshow in the country. It’s running between the May 27th and 31st. For the latest in design patterns, weaving, yarns, and instruction, Cleveland is the place to head to.
Craft Fairs in the U.K During 2020
Scotland Trade Fair – The Scottish Event Campus is the first significant fixture for crafts in 2020. Held in Glasgow, the three-day event runs from 19th to the 21st January and promises to include local textiles, clothing, jewellery, clan-related works, fashion, and more. There’s also the nearby Scotland’s Speciality Food Show running on the same dates too.
London Art Fair – The Business Design Centre in London is the venue for the London Art Fair. It runs from the 22nd to the 26th of January. This fair features a collection of international artists with various handicrafts, decorative pieces, and handmade items on show.
Knitting & Stitching Shows – The Business Design Centre is again the venue from the 27th February to March 1st, this time for the popular Knitting & Stitching trade fair. It’s the place to be for anything knitwear and yarn-related. There’ll be workshops, useful demonstrations and many vendors in attendance. It’s a must-see event for those with a love for their knitting needles in need of a little inspiration.
Crafting at Ally Pally – The historical Alexandra Palace is the place to find the Ally Pally event from the 4th to the 5th of April. Available products will include woodwork, glass, metalwork, jewellery, ceramics, sculptures and more.
Handmade in Oxford – The “Handmade In” list of events covers different parts of the country. In this case, there’s an event being held in Oxford on the 25th to the 28th June featuring up to 250 artisans, artists and other creatives.
Whether you’re crisscrossing the globe or sticking to home turf, there’s plenty to see and do at craft events. Whether smaller, intimate events or larger fairs, you can surely find an event that’s right for you.
EGA would love to hear if you have any Craft Events coming up in the near future local to you and why they are special to your town!
