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Just finished the Hinsdale art festival. This was my second year showing. Here is a link to last years review if you are looking for more info. We are on the road to Virginia Beach and I am writing this in the car on the iPad so this will be a shorter review.

http://www.artfairinsiders.com/profiles/blogs/hinsdale-fine-arts-festival-chicagoish

Hinsdale is a small quaint town outside of Chicago. The art show is set up in the park in downtown Hinsdale. Great location. There is a Starbucks at one corner of the park, a gas station for ice at another corner and a ton of great resteraunts a stones throw away. It is the perfect combination of showing in a city but having the ease of showing in a park. Booths are set up on the grass and there are sidewalk paths in front of your booth. There is room behind your booth and a decent amount on each side.

Set up starts on Friday at 9:30 am. There are around 100 artists. You cant drive into the park but this is a small park and you get pretty close to your booth. Bring a dolly but for many of us you don't need one. This is a very easy low stress set up. It was hot, 95 and humid so we took it slow. The people that run the show were again wonderful. They introduce themselves and kept everything running smoothly.

There aren't any hotels in Hinsdale but Oak Brook has a ton of hotels just a few miles away. We were able to get the Doubletree for $60 a night.

Saturday called for another HOT day and rain. It hit 98 on Saturday but no rain. After melting in Decatur a couple weeks ago we packed an arsenal of stuff to keep us cool. We had a box fan on the ceiling of the tent for patrons. Two battery operated fans, one for each chair, A misting fan, Two frogg toggs, ice gel packs and the best of all my out door airconditioning that Larry Houghs made for me. We were very comfortable all day and had success with sales. The patrons in Hinsdale are sophisticated and qualified. I felt like the crowds were stronger this year. It never is a crowded show but there always were people shopping all day. The show closed at 5pm on Saturday. 5pm is the perfect time to close a show. So happy Hinsdale has this figured out.

Sunday the temps dropped to the 60s and hit about 70. If was a beautiful day. The show opens at 10 am. We set up early and went for a great breakfast across the street from the show. Sales started happening right at open, 10 am and we watched work go out through out the day. Both days the staff was womderful about keeping us stock with cold water. Booth sitters were available if you needed one. They might have had some food available but we either pack our own or in this case we take turns and enjoy a nice lunch at one of the restaraunts.

Load out is easy. The show closes at 5pm. The police officer starts letting vehicles in right at 5pm. Again this is a small show and pretty easy to get your vehicle close to your booth space. You don't have to tear down before getting your vehicle. This is nice because you only have to touch everything once.

We hope to return next year. The setting is so nice. The patrons are great and the show staff are wonderful.

Now on to Virginia Beach. From everything I have heard about this show I feel like we are entering an art fair game show challenge. But first we are going to visit Point Pleasant WV, home of The Moth Man. I am thinking of staying in the historic hotel in this town but it may be too creepy from all I have heard:)