PLATTSBURGH — Members of the community and more than 140 vendors from far and wide gathered at the SUNY Plattsburgh Fieldhouse for the 51st SUNY Plattsburgh Arts and Craft fair this weekend.
The annual Arts and Craft fair featured 144 vendors total offering a variety of goods including handcrafted wood, glass and metal works, jewelry, home-decor, holiday decorations, toys, games and more.
Also at the fair for the first time, a silent auction with raffle baskets including items donated by vendors, a kid-center with face painting and arcade games.
Proceeds from the raffle and entry-fee go toward the CAS Youth Summer Programming.
LINE OUT THE DOOR
The SUNY Plattsburgh Campus Auxiliary Services hosts this craft fair annually to expose the community to small or local businesses, as well as an opportunity to get some holiday shopping done.
According to Amanda Prenoveau, Campus Auxiliary Services director of conferences and events, the line stretched out the door into the parking lot when the doors opened at 10 a.m. Saturday
Months of preparation and coordination with vendors lead up to this event. Vendor registration opened in May and open enrollment began in July.
“We have 225 spots total, all 8-foot by 8-foot, vendors are allowed to set up across two spots,” Prenoveau said.
“There are always challenges, but this year it is going very smoothly. We did have some last minute cancellations from vendors who are sick, but we managed to fill those up quickly.
“We had a waitlist with over 60 vendors. We were able to get about half of them in, but ended up closing the list.”
‘THE BIGGEST I’VE SEEN IT’
With the help of student volunteers, the CAS began arranging the booths Monday and the vendors set up on Friday.
According to Prenoveau, her favorite aspect of the fair is interacting with people and seeing familiar faces.
“I am a people person,” she said.
“I love interacting with all the different vendors, and seeing familiar faces, even though this is my first year in this position.”
The arts and craft fair serves the community in several ways; for a trio of sisters, the fair acts as an annual sister-get-together. They browse, shop and enjoy the day together.
“We are all sisters and we come every year as an annual sisters get together,” Jane Kowalowski said.
“This is the biggest I’ve seen it get before. I have had to wait in line to buy something. I never have to wait in line at this.”
SO MUCH TALENT
According to Kowalowski, the craft fair is a destination for talent.
“There is so much talent in here, so many beautifully handcrafted goods,” she said.
“There are new wares as well, which is always fun.”
Returning vendors appreciate the fair and the exposure it offers small and local businesses.
Terry Warner has spent approximately 18 years hand-crafting Adirondack-style furniture as a hobby. Warner Adirondack Designs is based out of Morrisonville.
Warner and his wife attend three to four craft shows a year, including this one, and the Rustic Furniture Fair in Blue Mountain Lake.
“I make these out of pine or cedar. You can see the colors. I try to do something different with every piece,” Warner said.
“It is all done by hand. I cut the wood by hand, peel the bark and then let it dry for about three years. and then it takes about three or four days to put together.”
‘ADOPTED FAMILY’
Other vendors are just happy the community is eager to return to the fair and support local business.
“We participate every year,” said Fine Drawings and Paintings vendor Matthew McGarr.
“It’s nice to have it back and open again, they’re happy to come out for this.”
McGarr and his “adopted family” have been offering their goods for approximately 30 years. Matt, who focuses on painting and 3D printing, works with Sharon McGarr and Vivian Viley to sell their handmade goods.
“These are all hand-made and one of a kind,” Sharon said.
“But we can make just about anything.”
