About
The Maker Fair Handcrafted Artisan Festivals will be moving to Hawaii in 2017!
Maker Fair MN Co-Organzer Kara VanSickle and Maker Fair Founder/Producer Sara Krosch
The Maker Fair Handcrafted Artisan Festivals began in Minnesota in 2012 to celebrate local arts and foods. Maker Fair Minnesota has grown to feature hundreds of artisans and attracts thousands of shoppers each October in Garden City, MN.
In 2016, the Maker Fair hosted 3 events in Colorado Springs, Colorado-
- Spring Festival, May 7-8
- Green Market, Aug 6
- Holiday Hoopla, Dec 9-10
The Maker Fair also sponsored a Craft Show Crash Course Workshop for artisans in collaboration with the Pikes Peak Library District. And a group of 12 Maker Fair Artisans formed the Crafted Colorado Pop-Up Shop with support from the Downtown Colorado Springs Development Authority.
MAKER FAIR SPRING FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Spring Festival was held at the City Auditorium in downtown Colorado Springs May 7-8, 2016 featuring 53 handcrafted artisans! Over 1,300 adults and hundreds of kids enjoyed unique shopping, free Goodie Bags, free Make & Take Crafts, free Mother’s Day Photos and a Kids’ Gnome Scavenger Hunt! Check out the Spring Festival Artisan Gallery to connect with your favorite Spring Festival Makers.
“I attended the Maker Fair and I have to say this was my most favorite craft fair I have been to! The kids loved the gnome hunt. Every vendor was unique and everything was handmade. There were so many wonderful things and there were so many more things I wanted to buy. I loved that there was a DIY craft for kids and adults. I am marking all future Maker Fair events on my calendar. I also loved the venue. It was my first time to the City Auditorium.” -Maker Fair Spring Festival Shopper
What MAKER FAIR ARTISANS Have to say…
“I really enjoyed the high quality products that were for sale and the high level of artistry displayed.”
“Very professional and knowledgeable as a promoter. She was well organized and did an excellent job in communicating in advance and during the show with all the vendors. She greeted vendors and knew most by name once they introduced themselves.”
“I so, so appreciated the organization of this event. I felt that the attendance was very steady over the two days.”
“I loved the venue, the communication, the selection of vendors. Everyone was wonderful and we had an awesome experience!”
“The quality and diversity of venders made it a complete pleasure to be apart of.”
“I loved being a part of the Colorado Springs Maker Fair Spring Festival! The weekend was full of friendly artisians, very helpful staff and I had a GREAT spot and got lots of exposure for my jewelry. I also appreciated the attractive advertising posters and snacks for vendors.”
“Amazing job organizing, advertising and communicating with vendors! Several customers commented on the high quality vendors (a nice change from some shows!)”
“The kids’ scavenger hunt was brilliant and the vendor coffee/snacks were greatly appreciated. Other vendors and staff were helpful, kind, and supportive. Organizational details before the event were very well handled, clear and helpful.”
“I absolutely loved this show! It was a great venue, it was very organized, tons of
traffic, all my questions were answered quickly, Great selection
of vendors. I will definitely attend this
again and again!”
MAKER FAIR INTRODUCES THE GREEN MARKET
The Maker Fair added a ‘Green Market’ to its line up of handcrafted artisan festivals August 6, 2016 at Acacia Park in downtown Colorado Springs. The event showcased 45 makers who create with natural/organic, up-cycled and vintage materials in a celebration of sustainable arts. Over 1,000 adults and hundreds of children enjoyed unique shopping, free Goodie Bags, free Kids’ Upcycled Make & Take Crafts and a DIY Photo Booth sponsored by Who Gives a Scrap Creative Reuse Center, and a Kids’ Gnome Scavenger Hunt! Award winning local RXP 103.9 FM Radio also broadcast live from the event. Visit the Green Market Artisan Gallery to reconnect with your favorite green artisans!
MAKER FAIR HOLIDAY HOOPLA FESTIVITIES
The Maker Fair returned to the Colorado Springs City Auditorium December 9-10, 2016 to host the Holiday Hoopla.
The event featured 67 makers and food vendors and was attended by over 1,800 adults and hundreds of kids who enjoyed one-of-a-kind holiday shopping, goodie bags, make and take crafts, a kids’ yeti search, DIY photo booth, and complimentary holiday treats from Sassie Sweets. RXP radio also did a live broadcast.
Connect with your favorite artisans via the Holiday Hoopla Gallery.
“Great info for getting started at craft fairs. I didn’t know where to start and now I do!”
“I really liked the workbook, very helpful materials as I am starting from stratch.”
“This workshop showed me there is so much more I can do than just getting a table and laying my stuff out to sell!”
“I learned much more than expected. It covered answers to questions I didn’t know I had!”
CRAFT SHOW CRASH COURSE WORKSHOP
The Maker Fair is committed to supporting area Makers by offering a 2.5 hour training packed full of tips for artisans who would like to start selling at arts festivals and markets. The workshop has been offered 5 times to date at Colorado Springs area public libraries covering vital topics and includes an action planning workbook. Participants learned tips on:
- Finding & Applying to Shows
- Branding, Packaging & Displays
- Licenses, Taxes & Insurance
- Pricing your Handcrafted Goods
- Promoting your Creative Business
Crafted Colorado Artisan Marketplace
Twelve Maker Fair Artisans collaborated with the Downtown Colorado Springs Development Authority to open The Crafted Colorado Artisan Marketplace holiday pop-up shop November – December 2016 at 212 N Tejon St.
Crafted Colorado featured handcrafted home decor, furniture, clothing, accessories, jewelry, artisan foods, and body care products by local makers. Connect with Crafted Colorado artisans here.
