Support Your Local Creators - Editorial
On the last Saturday in April, a craft fair was held in Buzzards Bay to benefit the Bourne Friends Food Pantry. These fairs have been held a few times before, but, having never personally attended, we decided to stop in and see what it was all about.
Craft fairs seem to be a sort of lost art. Sure, there are loads of farmers markets around nowadays, but they are just not the same. We grew up going to craft fairs—a timeless tradition in our family, overseen by three generations of women—and there is something special, a sort of je ne sais quoi about strolling the aisles of a local fair, browsing the one-of-a-kind wares of local crafters, that just tickles us pink.
That Saturday afternoon, we took in the leisurely pace of the day and took our time perusing each of the stalls. The goods for sale were spectacular, ranging from knit wearables to jewelry handmade from foreign coins to crystals of all colors, shapes and sizes.
The part we most enjoyed, however, was the conversations we had. The fair was winding down by that point, allowing us to chat with many of the vendors. We listened to some of their stories, gushed over their artistry and snagged a few business cards before heading out.
On the way home, it hit us that the real draw of these things—fairs and farmers markets alike—goes far beyond the promise of nice things to buy. They are a chance to meet our neighbors and to support their small businesses. It is a chance to come together, to put all the goings-on of the world aside for a moment, and interact with each other, to take a moment to appreciate one of the few things on this earth that can bring humans together above all else: art.
A few days after the fair, we contacted one of the vendors we spoke with, August from Shoestring Woodworks, to inquire about a few gifts we needed to purchase. August went above and beyond and, when we expressed our gratitude, he said since we were his customers, he’d do whatever he could to make us happy. That’s not something you hear every day, at least not anymore, and it made us feel good.
Craft fairs, at least to us, feel a bit nostalgic in the best way. It feels good to support creators, especially small local ones. Fairs like this not only put dollars right back into our community, but can also make a tangible impact on the small crafters being supported. And that feels good for all parties involved.