This Weekend's Craft Fairs — April 20-22

With Earth Day on Sunday and craft fairs all weekend long, this weekend promises to be one of the year's best for handmade browsing. Shoppers can expect independent shows like Colorado's Spring Makerie Market; the 2012 Smithsonian Craft Show, a massive exhibition in Washington D.C.; and handmade marketplaces like the Queen Bee Market in Utah.

While we can't write about every craft fair and marketplace happening across the country we do like to highlight a handful of notable ones each week. If you'd like more people to know about your event, list it on the Craft Map and we'll gladly consider it for coverage. You can also email us at info@craftfoxes.com. 

The East

2012 Smithsonian Craft Show

April 19-22, (Thur & Fri) 10:30-8:30, (Sat) 10:30-5:30, (Sun) 11-5 

 

The Smithsonian will host one of this weekend's most highbrow craft fairs with over 120 juried craft vendors, The Craftful Table, a panel discussion; and the White House's collection of American crafts. 

National Building Museum, 401 F Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., 202-633-4300, austrpr@si.edu, $15 Admission / Children Under 12 Free, Smithsonian Craft Show

Creative Spring Fling

April 21, 10-4 

Door prizes and unique gifts for Mother's and Father's Day are the foundation of this Massachusetts craft fair. Shoppers can expect handmade jewelry, handbags and children's fashions and toys. 

1077 Pond Street, Franklin, Massachusetts, creativecraftshows@gmail.com, $1 Admission, Creative Craft Shows

The South

Arts Market of New Orleans 

April 21, 10-4

This monthly craft fair in Louisiana hosts local artists, kids activities and music. There are even community bicycle workshops to help promote biking in New Orleans. 

Palmer Park, South Carrollton and South Claiborne Avenues in Uptown, 504-523-1465, gmeneray@artscouncilofneworleans.org, Free Admission, Arts Council of New Orleans

Houston International Festival

April 21-22 & 28-29, 11-8 

This Texan festival offers a buffet of international culture for the hundreds of thousands who attend. This year, the festival spotlights Argentina with food, music and at a trendy arts and crafts marketplace. 

City Hall, Tranquility Park and Sam Houston Park areas, Houston, Texas, 832-771-7661, markets@ifest.org, $18 Adult/$5 Youth, Houston International Festival 

The Midwest

Jewelry, Fashion and Accessories Show

April 19-22, 9:30-5:30 

Crafters can buy directly from jewelry and fashion exhibitors at this unique Illinois craft show. Every day, the first 500 shoppers will win giveaways, and every shopper can expect hundreds of vendors, wholesale prices and trendy acessories. 

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, 9301 Bryn Mawr Avenue, Rosemont, Illinois, 800-323-5462, $10 Admission, Transworld's JF&A

The West

Firefly Handmade's Spring Makerie Market 

April 22, 10-5 

Over 60 small-batch vendors will gather for this indie craft fair, which focuses on green and local crafts. Music, photobooths and make-n-takes will also be at this Colorado marketplace. 

Chautauqua Community House, 900 Baseline Road, Boulder, Colorado, fireflyhandmade@gmail.com, $2 Admission, Firefly Handmade Market

Queen Bee Market 

April 20-21, (Fri) 7-9 pm, (Sat) 9-3 

Utah is the stage for this independent craft fair, where over 50 vendors will join for this handmade marketplace, created in collaboration with the sold-out 2012 Snap craft conference. 

Show Barn at Thanksgiving Point, 3900 North Garden Drive, Lehi, Utah, info@thequeenbeemarket.com, Free Admission, Queen Bee Market

Earth Day San Francisco 

April 22, 10-6 

Sometimes called America's greeniest city, San Francisco is hosting an Earth Day celebration with eco-friendly exhibits like the Sustainable Chef Showcase and permaculture workshops about harvesting rain, raising bees and more. 

Civic Center Plaza, 355 McAllister Street, San Francisco, California, earthdaysf@gmail.com, 415-571-9895, Free Admission, Earth Day San Francisco

Image credits (from top): TransWorld Exhibits, Inc., Smithsonian Craft Show, Creative Craft Shows, Arts Council of New Orleans, Houston Internal Festival, TransWorld Exhibits, Inc., Firefly Handmade Market, Queen Bee Market and Earth Day San Francisco.