Weather holds out for craft fair

WASHINGTON — Delayed rain and a gentle breeze were welcome surprises for the 33rd annual Craft Fair in Washington Saturday.

“It’s been going really good, we’ve been really happy with all the traffic and can’t complain at all,” Washington Chamber of Commerce Event Coordinator Alisha Davis said. “We’ve had a great turnout … I think we’re at where we typically are, if not more.”

Davis said things went well.

“Everything’s run really smooth so far,” she said. “Vendors are all happy, patrons are happy, so I think we’re good. Food vendors are busy, and that’s for sure a way to tell … it’s good.”

It was Vendor Liz Miller’s second time at the event, setting up a tent for her crochet shop — Ea Creative Designs — from Marion. She said the networking experience brought her back.

“I made really good connections with other vendors,” she said. “And then obviously, sales, are enough … and it’s definitely a lot nicer than last year, last year it was really hot.”

From further away, Carl Rickard — a Missouri resident selling copper wire art woven into rocks from his store, “Copper Back in Nature” — came to the craft fair for the first time this year. He said he heard about it from Facebook.

“It’s been going for 33 years, people know it, it’s quick, and concentrated so we knew it was going to be busy,” he said. “The volume that we’re selling, it’s a lot of people. The rocks are different, and people who are interested in rocks don’t see these types up in this area … it’s worked out pretty good.”

The event caters to a wide variety of businesses. Deb Simmering, a Washington resident, set up a booth selling an assortment of what she called “fabric creations” under a homemade sign. She said craft fairs were her only regular sale days of the year, a business model that’s not profitable, but is enjoyable nonetheless.

“I just love to sew, and so I make stuff and I don’t know what to do with it,” she said. “This is a beautiful spot, and it’s well-attended, so it’s always a good thing … it gives me something to do that I feel productive.”

This season’s craft fair was the biggest Washington has ever held, bringing 117 vendors to the square. The bigger-than-ever affair had some vendors in unusual spots, including Ms. Daisy’s Garden Creations, which set up shop on the closed street, an area usually reserved for food vendors.

Robbie Hinz, who manned the store, said she still saw good foot traffic despite her out-of-the way booth.

“It’s a good show, anything that’s got over 100 vendors and has been going for 33 years, people come and buy,” she said. “I think it’s meeting expectations.”

Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com