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If you are planning on selling at art or craft shows during this fall and holiday season, now is the best time to start planning and gathering information. Today, let’s take a look at how to actually find shows in your area.
5 Ways to Find Craft Shows in Your Area
- Use a large scale craft show directory online. Some good places to start include: Festival Net, CraftMaster News (by subscription only), and my favorite CraftLister. (They also list non-craft events, and I have discovered lots of neat places to go with my kids!) Don’t forget, you can also search Google for “craft shows (your state)”.
- Look in your local newspaper or arts and crafts magazines. Often times, craft show organizers put up classified ads in local newspapers to help find vendors in the months before their show. They advertise once again for shoppers when the show or fair is closer. Also, look in the back of arts and crafts magazines for upcoming shows or fairs. If you don’t want to purchase a copy of major crafting publications, feel free to visit your local book store or library.
- Reach out to local churches, schools, service organizations, and women’s groups to see if they have any upcoming shows or fairs planned.
- Talk to other crafters. Visit your local craft store and ask around. Having worked at Michaels Arts and Crafts as an instructor, I can tell you that most of the people that work in craft stores also craft. Many have their own crafting businesses on the side, and may also attend shows or fairs. Additionally, our local Michaels, Joanns, and Hobby Lobby are have bulletin boards in the front of their stores with upcoming craft show information.
- Browse social media. Take some time and start looking through social media like Facebook. There are bound to be crafters and organizers talking about upcoming shows.
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Amy Smith
Saturday 21st of May 2016
This is a great article and I appreciate this information. Personally, I have yet to sign up for a fair due to two factors. 1. Making to little and failing. 2. Making to much and again still being in debt. So my question is how does one know how much is enough without being too much?
Christine
Monday 23rd of May 2016
Hi Amy! I take enough inventory to make at least 5 times the show entry fee. Craft shows are really hit or miss. I'd dive in and try one out to see if you even like doing them - some people don't.