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Fine Arts Craft Fair Back at Essex Town Park

After a few years of keeping its annual art fair fundraiser close to home on the grounds of Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, this year the fair, which will will return to the Essex Town Park on Main Street for a two days of fun on July 18 and 19.

“This is our main fundraiser for the church,” said Joyce Leach, director of religious education for Our Lady of Sorrows and Fine Art Fair coordinator.

More than 35 New England based vendors will display their work at the event. Some unique items will include paintings, glassware, pottery, photography, jewelry, artisanal olive oils and herbs, custom candles, specialty pet items, silk flower arrangements, woodcrafts, gourd art, primitive dolls, antiqued local maps, artisan soaps, and more.

In addition to the art, there will also be child friendly activities such as a kids’ jewelry making station and daily shows by professional juggler and magician “Crazy Bob,” who was most recently featured on the Travel Channel.

“Crazy Bob is from Boston and he is very funny and entertaining for all ages. He always draws the audience in to his act and everyone has a great time,” said Leach.

Those who get hungry while browsing the booths need not worry; Essex Provisions and Ashley’s Ice Cream will both offer treats.

All proceeds from the fundraiser will be used to re-pave and re-surface Our Lady of Sorrows parking lot and install a new sound system in the church building.

“There is always something that needs to be done or improved, so we are very grateful for all the funds raised at this event,” said Leach.

Leach explained that the current church was once home to Pratt Hotel, and was redesigned into a church. The stained glass windows from the original church, when it was housed on Prospect Street, were installed in the current church thanks to a town resident who had stored them for years in his barn.

Leach added, “We have a fabulous variety of fine artisans arriving at Essex Village and this art fair is a perfect weekend event with something enjoyable for the entire family, so we hope to see lots of town residents and visitors out at the park.”

Entry to the fair, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is free. “Crazy Bob” will perform on Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. and Sunday at noon.

Fine Art vendors include Wit Brothers Photographic Arts, NutDog Creations, Gems of the Sea, Woodcraft Arts, The Penny Wooden Doll, Vintage Times, Garden Grove Pottery, Michael Dunn, MJs Custom Jewelry, Trinkets to Treasures, Greenwald Pottery, Roots, Stems and Threads, Perfect Spot Art and Photography, Candlelights, Get a Grip, Doggie Duds/Golden Goodies, Quiggles Kidswear, Tom Ryan’s Studio, In the AM Floral, Glassification, Creatively Yours, Candlelight Rose, Sandy’s Soap Shop, Birchwood Petals, Jempy Ent. LLC, Brighton Woodworks, A Stitch of Mine, 3 Boys Crafting Company, Vegetable Ivory, The Tattered Dame Studio, David O’Reilly, Birdhouse Accents, PureBliss Jewelry, and Lakonia Greek Products.

For more information, visit www.olos-sx.org.