Crafts in the Park returns to Mt. Pleasant

Crafts in the Park is back in Mt. Pleasant’s Central Park after missing last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s been a long time coming for the crafters, artists and antique dealers who come to show their wares.

Melodee Yaley and Bree Clark are two of those vendors looking forward to being back in town.

“We’re looking forward to (being back at Craft in the Park),“ Yaley said. “We think it’s going to be great to see people out and about and socializing again.”

“I’ve heard a lot of people say they’re really excited to be back,” Clark said. “This is a huge event for Mt. Pleasant, and it brings in 30,000 people. People are excited to go shopping and just get back to normal.”

Yaley, who currently lives in Texas but was born and raised in Iowa, says it’s great to come together with other artists for a huge event.

“Our booth is a collaboration of several local artists and myself who currently live in Texas but was born and raised here,” Yaley said. “It’s a chance to let smaller people do a big event. We come together, and it’s like a little co-op. We’ve been doing it for about 10 years now.”

Crafts in the Park has been a long-running part of the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion.

The Mt. Pleasant Area Chamber of Commerce has been organizing the event for more than 40 years now.

Shoppers can enjoy the event starting Wednesday through Sunday.