Art Fair Insiders

Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals

Are there any?  If so, which one(s), and why?    If there aren't any, why is that?

For me, for the past 8 years, one of my best shows of the year has been Festival for the Eno, on July 4th weekend, in Durham, NC (www.enoriver.org).  Positives:  No application fee (apps. due 2/15/12), low booth fee ($185 for 3 days, payable after you're juried in), great staff, easy load in any time the day before, good crowds, and good to excellent sales.  Negative:  HOT weather, but that's everywhere in NC in July; and this year, I have to add:  the schedule.  Because Festival for the Eno is always held on July 4th, this year is the "weird" year.  Show begins on Wednesday, July 4th, resumes on Saturday, the 7th and ends on Sunday, the 8th.  Yes, that's right--we keep our booths set up on Thursday and Friday, and return for the weekend (we do remove product).  The last time this was the schedule, it was a disaster in terms of sales.  We were down about 50% from past years.  We're going into this year with a bit of trepidation, but because we've been doing it for so long, it's a hometown show for us (we live a half hour away), and we have many repeat customers, we'll do it. Fingers crossed.

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Replies to This Discussion

My big show in N.C. is the Currituck Wildlife Festival, the second weekend in September.  They advertise it well and there is good support from the community.  

Art in the Park in Blowing Rock, Sanford Pottery Festival, and Catawba Valley Pottery Festival in Hickory. But, the best shows have been out of state! Wisconsin & Wyoming. Lotta travel, but what a great ride!!

I got a lot of mileage out of the Hilton Head Island Honey Horn show last year and am looking forward to it this year.  Matthews Artfest and Charlotte Fine Art Festival were both good to me as well.  All three are easy on load in/out and my sales were good as well.

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