Support Your Local Craft Fair

Forsyth Fall Frenzy

I received a nice email from Patty right in my hometown with an upcoming craft fair.  The Forsyth Fall Frenzy will be Saturday, November 2nd starting at 9:30 until 2:30, at the Rosebud County Fairgrounds exhibition hall, near the hospital.

I have been to the craft fairs in Forsyth and they are wonderful shopping and social events.  Reconnecting with friends and finding unique gifts for family.  Quilt and art displays, and home-baked goodies.  And my money supports the small-town economy.

Thanks much, Patty, for the note.  This is now on my calendar.

Original Post, October 15th

That time of the year is coming up.  The Holidays.  Soon you will write the list of loved ones and ask "What will I give them for Christmas this year?!"  Just the thought of shopping centers and traffic is enough to darken the spirit.  How about an alternative when the opportunity opens.  I suggest the local craft fair.

These are the smallest of small businesses.  Individuals with a craft or artistic talent who produce items by hand for the marketplace.  These are not mass produced in China.

I recently attended the HarvestFest hosted by Downtown Billings.  On a warm fall day, thousands gathered to shop and eat and see dancers.  There is a selection of gifts to fit nearly anyone and certainly fit in any budget.  Such as Whimsie in the picture above, a family business in home decor and plants.

Head Concepts creates toys from a 3D printer, segmented, moveable and posable.

Jim's Woodcrafts has unique wooden boxes with old-fashioned post office box doors.

This nice young lady, Lindsey Munson, will convert a photo of your favorite pets into watercolor art.  She has a list of commissions right now but will cheerfully add your furry family members on.  LindseyMunson.com

For the youngsters to burn off all that energy.

Soilmates has these handpainted pots in sizes for nearly every plant.

And this is just a sliver of the vendors accessible at local fairs.  At one parking of the car, we can enjoy numerous gift ideas and preempt ourselves from one aspect of the holiday stress.  I strongly suggest locking away your findings in the car trunk to prevent break in and theft.

The next major events will be the Montana Country Creations Craft Show on October 26th and the Holiday Food and Craft Fair in November, the 9th and 10th, both at MetraPark.  I had knocked out a lot of Christmas shopping in the latter one last year.

If you know of other craft fairs in the state, please feel free to let us know.  Travis.Lee@townsquaremedia.com

See you at the next small marketplace.

Get our free mobile app