This is my 5th time participating in the Arden Fair. This fair has been going on for over 100 years and is held in a small artists community. The price is right ($50 plus 10%) and the volunteers are always around to help out. Load in and out can be quite tricky. There's a small road that everyone has to take and it just requires some patience to get to your spot. They do their best to move everyone quickly. For 2 years, I loaded everything up on my hand cart and pulled it to the parking area at the end. That got too dicey, so now I pack up my stuff, take my $$ and jewelry to the car and then go do some shopping and come back in an hour or so for an obstacle free load up.
The show is heavy with jewelry, there's some buy/sell and they have an antiques market, beer garden, all day music, minstrels, hula hoop girls, and some great food and a killer book sale and bake sale. It's definitely a place where you can go to spend the day. There are some ready-made booths available in addition to 10x10 spaces. This year, I did just under $600. Not my best there (the jeweler next to me.....yes right next to me...... did $1100 and was down by about 1/3 from last year) but I'll be back again next year. It's only a 1/2 hour drive from home and I've gotten to know quite a few artists/crafters over the years. I've had some repeat customers as well.
Replies
Hello Megan. Sounds like you should stick with this show. Being close to home does save on your costs to do the show. I keep hoping our economy starts to change around. It has been on a down ward slope now for over 10 years. We have got to make a turn around soon! Good luck,
Jacki B