VAN BUREN, Maine – GO-Van Buren recently announced that its annual Aroostook Artisans Craft Fair will be held this year on Saturday, May 7 at the Community Center on Champlain Street in Van Buren. Doors open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with no admission charge.
The timing offers shoppers a chance to find the perfect gift for Mother’s Day, as well as for graduation, June weddings, and Father’s Day, and even to spiff-up the yard for the summer.
Organizers Susan Arendsee, Norman Chamberlain, and Eleanor Varley claim that they have gathered “the best of the best” creative talent this year in a wide range of media, from stained glass to primitives and practically everything in between, all original and hand-crafted.
Unique to this craft fair is a group of authors who will be present for book signings. Shoppers can purchase an autographed copy for the regular price of the book itself, and they can also spend time chatting with the diverse authors who call Maine home.
Shoppers can also eat at the fair thanks to a catered kitchen serving all day, with a place to sit and relax while eating. There will also be an auction of craft samples with drawings every 15 minutes from noon on (bring a nonperishable item for the local food pantry and receive three free tickets).
Attendees can also visit with representatives from non-profit organizations to find out what’s going on around the area, and there may even be an entertainer or two stopping by.
The organizers state that, although the fair’s growing reputation already attracts established craftsmen, they wouldn’t turn away new, high-quality crafters looking to break into the circuit. “If your work is good, we’ll find a place for you!(sic)”
Check GO-Van Buren’s website, www.go-vanburen.org for more information. or visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/events/427659587425045.