The League of NH Craftsmen holds its nine-day fair
The 91st Annual Craftsmen’s Fair is put on by The League of NH Craftsmen. The nine-day fair runs from Saturday, Aug. 3, to Sunday, Aug. 11, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day, rain or shine, at the Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury. Kids 16 and under are free. Miriam Carter, Executive Director of The League of NH Craftsmen, gives a sample of what attendees can expect at this celebration of all things craft. Visit nhcrafts.org/annual-craftsmens-fair for a full list of booths, vendors, activities, demonstrations, food and more.
How did the Fair get started?
We’re in our 91st year and the Fair got started as an aspect of the League coming together which is 92 years old and it was a way to advance craft and support the makers of craft. It goes back to our roots, to 1932 when we were established. Governor Winant helped establish the League by recognizing that after the Depression there were people in the state that had wonderful abilities to make craft and artisan products. A way to have them benefit from the sale of those items was key to creating the League of NH Craftsmen. The first Fairs actually happened in little towns throughout New Hampshire. Then, in 1964, the Fair came to the state park here at Mount Sunapee Resort and it has been there for the last 60 years … we’re celebrating that as well this year…. We’re the oldest outdoor craft fair in the country.
Can you give a brief overview of one of the demonstrations at the Fair?
The Fair is an opportunity to come and see how craft is made and we do that through a variety of demonstrations that are both hands-on for the guests that come to see us, and guests of all ages can participate, as well as the ability to observe how someone is making their work. So we have Jeffrey Gale who’s going to be here demonstrating how baskets are made. He’ll literally be working with the raw wood to create strips that then get put into a basket. There’s a Pottery Tent where people can jump in, of all ages, and learn how to sit at a wheel and turn a clay object or build something by hand.
How many different artists and or vendors are going to be there over the course of the Fair?
We have over 300 juried members participating in this event. About 200 juried members are in booths selling their own work and that gives people the opportunity to meet the maker and to learn how their work is made. Then we have artisanal vendors who are selling food as well as all the demonstrators who actually, some of them will be selling their own work in their booths. We have two venues that are really special to this event which is the Art, Craft & Design Tent. It’s an opportunity for people to bring their best work forward to be considered for jurying. It’s kind of like a gallery in the middle of the basin of a mountain. It’s quite extraordinary and quite beautiful. Then we also shop at the Fair, it’s called the Shop at the Fair, and that’s a collaborative effort of people who aren’t in booths who want to be a part of the fair so they have this space where they can sell their work here at the fair but not have to be at a nine-day booth…. There’s also a Sculpture Garden. That’s a specific area for people who have garden art that they like to bring to Fair to sell. Their work is displayed there.
What are the fine art exhibitions?
Years ago, the league actually had Fine Art as part of our categories of the organization. The New Hampshire Art Association actually is a spin-off of the League of NH Craftsmen. So we used to be the League of New Hampshire Arts and Crafts and then we just went to ‘Crafts’ so they are here as well. We invite them to come and bring their members and they have a tent. We, over the years, have done … new things. One is that we invite guests who are not members of the League’s jury system to participate and there are two categories. One is, invite a guest who crafts in areas that we don’t represent, so we have about 34 exhibitors that are not juried members but invited guests and are craftsmen. Then we also have now invited guests who are Fine Artists who are bringing their beautiful paintings and drawings to be part of the event. The purpose of doing that is across the country there are a lot of fine art and craft shows that have this model because you’re attracting a wide range of people and their level of appreciation in both categories.
What is one sort of activity for kids at the Fair?
There’s an entire Kids Create! area, which we’re really proud about because we’re trying to create pathways to the next generation to understand the importance of craft and how you can have it in your life, whether it’s through just appreciation or through a career. So in the Kids Create! tent, kids of all ages can try all different formats of handmade craft…. You can do weaving, you can do print making, you can do clay building and basically a lot of free-form craft making. There’s going to be all sorts of materials and supplies and we will have people there to assist in the process.
What sorts of entertainment and food will be at the Fair?
We’re fortunate that we partner with the New Hampshire Music Collective and they provide really talented musicians for live music at the event. We also have incredible artisanal food to buy for lunches. There’s Thai food, there’s brick oven pizza, there’s all sorts of yummy treats, ice cream. We have several food vendors. We have a Dole Whip vendor but we have a lot of great food … a beer and wine tent right on the grounds so people can enjoy a libation while they’re enjoying what we offer.
Why do you think people should come to the Fair?
I think it’s a unique opportunity to experience both the craft and the makers of craft. We have everything here and we consider this an experience, not a shopping event. We want people to come to understand creativity and what you can do with your hands. In a world where we all click online to buy something, this is the opportunity to meet the maker and to really understand how an object is made. From children to adults, it’s a great opportunity to learn about craft and how you can include it in your life. I’ve been a crafts person for well over 30 years, my house is filled with craft and every time I drink my coffee out of a cup that’s handmade by someone I purchased it from, I think of that exchange that we had and I think about the story that maker told me about why they make things and how they make things, and that just enriches my life, so I encourage people to come and learn all about this organization.
—Zachary Lewis
The 91st Annual Craftsmen’s Fair
Saturday, Aug. 3, to Sunday, Aug. 11, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, rain or shine
No dogs or pets allowed
Any day ticket: $18 (online)
Two-day pass: $28 (online)
Kids 16 and under free
Gate tickets: $20
nhcrafts.org/annual-craftsmens-fair
Featured image: Courtesy photo.
