Local crafters and professional artists are once again gearing up for the largest crafts and fine arts festival in the area.
The 20th Annual Haddonfield Fine Arts and Crafts Festival will be held over two days along Kings Highway, most likely drawing more than 100,000 visitors to the borough over the weekend. The festival will be held on Saturday, July 14, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, July 15, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
As always, the festival will host a wide array of crafters and artists for the weekend. The festival will include arts and crafts, such as ceramics, glass, jewelry, wood, fiber, metal, paper, drawings, paintings, photography and wearable art.
The nationally ranked festival is not only the area’s largest family-friendly event, it draws family-run craft businesses from across the country, according to a press release about the festival.
The festival is located along Kings Highway between Washington and Haddon Avenue and along Tanner Street to Euclid Avenue. The free event is easily accessible from area bridges or by taking the PATCO Speedline to the heart of the shopping district. Parking is also free during the two-day festival.
There will be more than 250 original crafters and artists at the two-day festival.
Among the crafters and artists this year are Gordon Fine Arts, a husband and wife team that specializes in paintings and mix-metal jewelry. According to a representative of the festival, Gordon Fine Arts showcases the collaborative works of artists David E. Gordon and Sue Brown Gordon.
Interested in something with a little bit more of a kick? Why not stop by Matt Johnson’s booth and check out his creations. Naomi Johnson of Picture That Designs has been creating one-of-a-kind off-the-loom bead weaving pieces for five years and after attending Naomi’s shows, her husband Matt was inspired to take up his own craft, using recycled bottles to make glass-hanging mobiles. His pieces include wine, alcohol, and signature-etched bottle collections.
A first at the festival, sisters Jerrie and Marge Ferrell collaborate to create a variety of pieces such as “upcycled” label coasters and gemstone jewelry. The sisters will be bringing their business, Naturally by Marge, to the festival for first time.
Coming back to the festival is longtime participant Maya Handbags and Jewelry. The mother-daughter duo Veni and Maya Evangelista create handbags and jewelry. Their designs mix a wide variety of materials, including semi-precious stones, textural leathers, oxidized metals, metallic threaded cords, and crystal.
The event, as always, is free to the public. Because of large crowds people from outside of the borough are encouraged to take PATCO to the Haddonfield station and walk the short distance to Kings Highway.
Want to know who all of the crafters and artists will be at the festival, as well as their location? Visit www.shophaddonfieldnj.com and click on the “Crafts and Fine Arts Festival” link for a detailed map of the entire festival layout and the location of all the crafters.
