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07/06/2021 03:24 PMA signature event is returning to the Old Saybrook calendar this year, albeit with a new date. Organizers have announced The Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce Arts & Crafts Festival will be held the first weekend in October instead of July.
The craft fair has been an annual summer event that draws people far and wide to the Town Green each July. This will be the 58th year since the event’s inception, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic changes are required for this year.
This year the event will take place Saturday, Oct. 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Oct. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Old Saybrook Chamber Executive Director Judy Sullivan said that the event had to be moved to the first week in October to because of the uncertainty surrounding the virus.
“In February, our board of directors had to make a call and they unanimously voted to postpone it,” said Sullivan.
This decision was made after getting feedback from stakeholders like the Health, Police, and Park & Recreation departments.
Back in February, though there was indeed good new about vaccine progress and hope for increased availability, there was also still a high level of cases of COVID in the area. Due to that uncertainty, the organizers figured at the time it was prudent to postpone the date of the fair.
“We thought it was a wiser move to postpone the fair rather than wait and maybe have to cancel it all together,” Sullivan.
The free-to-attend fair takes place over two days and typically has around 150 artisans selling their wares, according to Sullivan. Items sold at the fair range from sculptures and paintings to soaps and jewelry and everything in between.
The Chamber is still accepting vendors. Interested vendors can go to the chamber’s website to apply for the fair. Each vendor is checked to make sure they are selling their own goods made themselves as no third-party sales are allowed.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the fair had to be canceled in 2020.
“The fact that it can be held again is exciting to the merchants and organizers alike. It’s a great event. I encourage people to come out and enjoy it. The vendors are very excited,” said Sullivan.