88th Annual Craftsmen’s Fair Returns to Mount Sunapee

The League of New Hampshire Craftsmen will hold the 88^th Annual Craftsmen’s Fair next month. The Fair opens Saturday, August 7^th on the grounds of Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury and will run through Sunday, August 15^th.  Although the craft booths will be spaced out a bit more to give fairgoers a little more room, this year’s event will have all the dynamic look and feel of this iconic annual New Hampshire arts event. Thousands of attendees are expected.

“Our members have spent more than a year working diligently and many have explored new ways to express their creativity. People will likely see things they have never seen before,” explains Miriam Carter, Executive Director of the League of New Hampshire Craftsmen.  “It has been a long and difficult path to get here.  This past year has been deeply challenging for all of us, and the journey will be reflected in the passion of our members’ work.  We invite everyone to reconnect with the League and rejoin a critical part of our state’s creative economy.”

The 88^th Annual Craftsmen’s Fair is the League’s signature event and the biggest fundraiser for the non-profit organization, which serves more than 650 juried members.  This year, the Fair will feature more than 300 exhibitors, the Art, Craft & Design and Sculpture Garden Exhibitions, and opportunities to watch members demonstrate and learn more about the processes that go into creating beautiful handmade items in a variety of mediums.

The Fair returns to the idyllic setting of the Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, where attendees can soak in the inspiring work of the craftsmen and enjoy delicious food provided by specialty food vendors, such as Thai, wood-fired pizza and smoothies, as well as new food and beverage offerings by the Mount Sunapee Resort.

Masks are optional for this event and attendees who have not been vaccinated are encouraged to wear a mask.  Tickets are available online at nhcrafts.org.  Online ticket holders will experience a shorter time in line, and quick movement through the gates.

Visitors who may be concerned about crowds are encouraged to attend mid-week, but organizers believe regional vaccination rates and a newly spread-out Fair design will provide for an enjoyable experience for everyone.

The fair will be open from 10AM – 5PM daily, rain or shine with shopping, demonstrations, and food available throughout the day. Ticket revenue helps the League to support members by assisting in funding their efforts to learn marketing skills, continue to refine their craft and connect with the public. 

“There will be plenty of tears, but they will certainly be joyful as our members, many of whom have known each other for many years, can finally gather again face to face,” says Carter.  “This is a special group of people, who had to be innovative and resourceful to stay in business, just like others who weathered the pandemic.  This is a way of life for so many people in New England and I am thrilled and honored to once again host this event.”

For more information, visit nhcrafts.org.