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09/23/2024 09:15 AMThe 60th annual Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce Arts and Crafts Festival will return to the Town Green on Saturday, Oct. 5, and Sunday, Oct. 6. The festival features about 150 artists and crafters.
The event, which offers free admission and free parking, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
“We have some new exhibitors this year that we’re really excited about,” said Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Judy Sullivan. “We have 15 new exhibitors this year. One new crafter, Carolyn Mackenzie of Avon, crafts sustainably crafted leather bags. A must see!” Sullivan said.
The crafts displayed are from multiple disciplines, namely acrylics, ceramics, consumables, embellishments, fiber arts, glasswork, graphics, jewelry, metalwork, mixed media, oils, pastels, photography, pottery, sculpture, watercolors, and wood crafting according to a press release.
The festival is an Old Saybrook tradition that dates back decades. At 60 years old, it’s one of the oldest continually running festivals in the area, a fact not lost on Sullivan.
“It’s amazing. It started well before my time on Main Street, and I think it’s been on the Green now [for] well over 30 years. We’re so grateful we can use the Green; it’s such a great location.”
Originally, the fair was usually held in July each year, but after the COVID-19 pandemic forced the event to be canceled in 2020, organizers moved the event to the fall when it returned in 2021. Sullivan said that the change in time of year has proven to be a surprise hit.
“Both artists and visitors have said, ‘No, keep it in the fall,’” Sullivan said. “We’ve found folks actually linger longer in the fall when the weather is more pleasant than in the sweltering heat in the summer. Plus, we get to bring a lot of people to town who don’t normally come outside the busy season, which is great,”.
The festival is annually a big draw. Sullivan estimated that between 4,000 and 8,000 people visit over the course of the weekend.
In addition to the crafts, Sullivan said that there will be a food court run by the Lions Club, Old Saybrook Rotary Club, and the Knights of Columbus.
“It really is a great event for the town. There’s always something for everyone, no matter what your artistic interest is,” Sullivan said.
A press release notes that vendor spots are full for the 2024 festival, but you can join the waitlist to secure a spot for next year’s festival by emailing christa@oldsaybrookchamber.com