61st ANNUAL ARTS & CRAFTS FESTIVAL PLANNING UNDERWAY

Volunteer Committee Readies for Best Ever Show

The 61st Annual Arts & Crafts Festival planning committee is working hard to prepare for the best show ever. The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce event, scheduled for March 15, 16 & 17, 2013, is held in Fairhope the third weekend of March each year. More than 100 volunteers, representing service clubs, chamber businesses and individuals, participate in the event.

More than 230 exhibitors from throughout the nation will bring their juried arts and crafts to this prestigious show. Live entertainment will be going on throughout the three-day event and unique cuisine will be served in the food court. It all takes place on the streets of beautiful downtown Fairhope, Ala. Last year the event attracted more than 350,000 visitors to the area. The festival was chosen as one of the top events in the state for March by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism & Travel, and it was voted as 26 out of 100 Best Predominantly Classic & Contemporary Craft Shows in the nation by Sunshine Artist Magazine. The show is also ranked in the top 20 by the Southeast Tourism Society.

“The Arts & Crafts Festival in Fairhope has a national reputation for Southern hospitality displayed by our wonderful committee, volunteers, the city and local businesses,” said Darrelyn Bender, president/CEO of the Chamber. “The economic impact of this festival is felt along the entire Eastern Shore.”

One way companies and individuals can get their name out there and help the artist and craftsmen, is to participate in the Patron of the Arts Award program during the festival. All one has to do is agree ahead of time to purchase a minimum of $100 from one of the artists. Once purchased, a placard will be placed at the vendor’s booth and the artist will be able to display a ribbon in their honor.

Sponsors for this year’s show include: Presenting - PNC Bank, Stage - Coldwell Banker, Reehl Properties; Gold – Faulkner State Community College, Ink Works, Pinzones Italian Downtown, and Converge; Silver – Citizens’ Bank, Riviera Utilities; Dinner – Segers Aerospace Corporation.

Festival hours are 10 am - 5 pm daily and there is no admission fee. BRATS will provide a shuttle services from shopping centers at the intersection of Fairhope Ave. and Greeno Rd. for $2 each way.

Photo: Back Row: Ricky Lewis, Kenny Graves, Stephen Roberts, Elizabeth Stone, Kay Overstreet, Lee Teumer, Kathleen Fernandez, Darrelyn Bender, Missy Templeton, Beth Pucket, Alice Myers, Ben Gall, Susan Pearce, Amanda Floyd, Ken Cooper, Barbara Blaze, Diane Douglas and Mac McLaren. Front Row: Verna Johnson, Liz Roberts, Mary Hodgkins, Cathy Myers, Debbie Floyd, Jaca McLaren, Barbara Haas, Jackie Pate and Mary Gregg. Not pictured: Harry Gregg, Lee Rivenbark, Louie Blaze, Brian Snider, Laura English, Linda Scott, Diane Herzog, and Gil Fickle


Festival hours are 10 am - 5 pm daily and there is no admission. For more information call 251-621-8222.