This year I visited Winterfair for the first time. I didn't really know what to expect as far as…read morethe quality of craftsmanship or the scale of the event. I knew from a quick bit of research that it was a long-standing tradition and spanned a long weekend of Thursday through Sunday each December.
I went on Sunday, the last day of the event. We paid (I think) $5 for parking. Admission was $7 on the first visit, free on each visit after that. I arrived as soon as doors opened at Noon and stayed until we were forced out at 5p. I walked nonstop the entire time and did not see nearly everything there was to see. There were hundreds of artisans. I saw mainly the same styles of crafts: wooden bowls, ceramics, jewelry, some watercolor, etc. The level of craftsmanship was pretty consistent throughout, which was a good and bad thing. The good thing was that there were no real schlubs. The bad thing was that I often felt like I was seeing more of the same.
We bought a lot, mainly Christmas gifts. Winterfair merchants must make a killing off people looking for unique gifts. I got a beautiful pair of earrings from artist Charles Pinckney. Charles' booth stood out to me because it was understated. Whereas many merchants faux walls were crammed top to bottom and edge to edge with merchandise, Charles' spot featured one glass display case with maybe 25 pieces of jewelry. I stopped to talk with him. He had a voice like James Earl Jones and a very endearing personality. Charles told me that his inspiration comes from his childhood. Each of his abstract pieces has a story, and he shared several of them with me. I inquired about one specific pair of earrings and became more enthralled with them after hearing their tale. I just had to have them. I put them on immediately and took a picture with Charles to commemorate the occasion.
I found another noteworthy crafter near the entrance, a husband and wife who make ceramic bird sculptures. It doesn't sound so interesting, but the sculptures are dead on! The eyes were phenomenally real. And you should see the feathers; they look pillowy and soft. I couldn't control myself and ended up touching three of the birds, only to be disappointed by their actual hard surfaces. They looked so lifelike.
While scoping out one merchant's items, I got a whiff of something deliciously sweet. I soon pinned the smell: roasted nuts! I followed my nose to a stand with a variety of handmade chocolates and freshly roasted nuts. I split a bag of pecans, a bag of almonds, and a bag of cashews with my cohort. Absolutely wonderful!
The Sunday show wasn't overly crowded, but I did have to deal with a lot of nudging. That's one thing I hate about craft shows. People elbow and crowd around you to see what you're looking at. And to get a good view of anything, you have to do some elbowing yourself.
Another thing that makes me a bit uncomfortable about craft shows is that the person who made the piece is sitting right there. So, you have to pull back your reactions. If you hate something, it's best to wait to say so until you're away from the stand. On the other hand, I had some marvelous conversations with vendors who were eager to tell me how they make their crafts and why they make their crafts. They were thrilled that someone was interested in knowing the stories behind their works.
When I entered the building, I took my time looking at every stall. But as the minute hand on the clock spun, I found myself merely glancing at the stalls towards the back of the annex. I wish I would've budgeted my time better. I feel like I missed some really good stuff.
It wasn't until the doors were getting ready to close that I discovered the food section of Winterfair. Jams, dips, syrups, drinks, mixes, and baked goods are housed in the far front corner. Almost every stall offers free samples of everything they sell. It was a heyday! I had some great raspberry hot chocolate, a fluffy banana cream pie dip, several creamy salsas, amazing maple syrup, and more. The sample areas were very clean, and the merchants enforce the use of tongs and a strict no double-dipping rule. Much appreciated.
If you're going, I suggest wearing a light jacket because the building gets hot. Carry a light purse as well because, no matter the actual weight, it will feel like a million pounds by the end of the day and you'll be adding the weight of your purchases to that. Bring plenty of cash as the goods are sometimes expensive (though less so than other venues I've been to), and many of the merchants don't have the capability to process credit cards. If you're buying something heavy, don't fret; most merchants will hold your purchase until you're ready to go. Do eat lunch in the building, and do sample as much of the food in the sales area as you can. And remember that you don't have to see it all in one day; if you plan to come back, get a ticket on the way out and bring it back with you for free re-entry.
