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07/12/2023 10:13 AMThe Guilford Art League’s 75th annual Craft Show is returning to the Green. The free, three-day show kicks off on Friday, July 14, and runs through Sunday, July 16, and is held in conjunction with the Guilford Craft Expo.
The show shares the Town Green with the Guilford Craft Expo and, in addition to arts and crafts, features food, children’s activities, and live entertainment, according to longtime event manager Joann Mara.
“This free event in a wonderful setting with easy access is a must for anyone interested in looking at professional art, talking with the local and New England artists about their work, enjoying the atmosphere of an outdoor event, and being comfortable for a time in a welcoming town and all it has to offer,” said Mara.
Now in its 75th year, Mara says the show was started by a group of local artists who wanted a place to exhibit their art for sale and perusal in a less formal environment than a traditional gallery.
“They wanted to interact with potential patrons and people who were interested in visual art. They had the answer when the Guilford Green was made available to them, including the snow fencing that the Public Works Department would not need in mid-July. With paintings hung on the snow fences set up in rows, card tables, and chairs, a tradition was born. Over time, the fences were replaced with more sophisticated setups, and the Art League added juried shows throughout the year, scholarships for young artists, exhibitions, and classes,” said Mara.
According to Mara, the event became so popular that following the success of the Guilford League’s event, New Haven area craft artists wanted to have a similar show on the Green, and with help from the artists, the Guilford Handcraft Center (now the Guilford Art Center) began a separate event at the same time. The Guilford Art Center’s Expo event is the result of this collaboration.
The Guilford Art League’s 75th annual Craft Show is on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday, July 16, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission to the Craft Show is free, but there is an entrance fee for the Guilford Craft Expo, also on the Green. Free parking is available at the commuter lot off exit 58 of I-95 and at Adams Middle School, 233 Church Street. Free shuttle buses will run from both locations. Paid parking is at St. George Church, 33 Whitfield Street.
The Guilford Craft Expo is on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, July 16, from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 or $9 for seniors 65 and older. Admission is free for Guilford Art Center members, children under 16, and active military. Multi-day passes are $15. Admission is cash or check only.
Both events are rain or shine.