What is it?
Now in its 8th year,
Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair is an exhibition and sale of handmade alternative arts and crafts from independent artists presented by the Washington City Paper. The fair is all-day, outdoors, free to attend, and will offer goods for sale, food, entertainment, prizes, and more!
Crafty Bastards will take place Saturday, October 1, 2011 in Washington, DC.
Why are we doing it?
As DC's premier alternative newsweekly, City Paper promotes underground art and strives to connect the voice and vision of the indie craft community with our readers. In our
Classifieds section, in print and online, we have a special Crafty Bastards advertising section through which craftspeople can sell their wares and throughout the year we post craft related info on the
Crafty Bastards blog, Cut the Craft, where we invite talented crafters to share their knowledge and expertise with the public. Every fall we hold the fair which creates an experience where the urban consumer can discover unconventional, hard-to-find arts and crafts, meet the artists, as well as enjoy an outdoor event with fun and entertainment! In 2008 we hosted a spring show that focused on learning, workshops, up-and-coming artists, and those newer to the indie craft scene.
When is this event and how do I find it?
Saturday, October 1, 2011, 10am-5pm at the Marie Reed Learning Center at 18th & Wyoming (
Google Maps) in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, DC.
Read the FAQ for more information.
What kinds of crafts will I find?
You won't find mass produced or imported goods here. You will find talented vendors handpicked by a select jury for their DIY chops and singular vision selling things you never knew existed and that you may never see again! There'll be surprises at every booth including reconstructed clothing, punk-rock baby clothes, handcrafted jewelry, whimsical and demented plush toys, handspun yarn, screen-printing, avant-garde art and much more!
In 2011, we are adding a special Young & Crafty section that will feature young makers between the ages of 9-18 years old.
We're also introducing a Food Craft section that celebrates the burgeoning D.I.Y. food movement. This inaugural program features a D.I.Y. Salon that will host some of the area’s best culinary talent as they teach exciting craft food techniques, a Crafty Food Market that displays and serves great artisanal food—and the highlight, the Crafty Food Awards, to crown the city’s best food crafters.
Event History
In 2004, City Paper held the first Crafty Bastards(sm) Arts & Crafts Fair at the Columbia Heights Community Marketplace. We featured 150 vendors, food, and bands. In 2005, Crafty Bastards moved to the Marie Reed Learning Center in Adams Morgan, and every year since has featured more than 100 indie craft vendors, tasty food vendors, generous sponsors, and fabulous prizes. The event has has grown to attract over 30,000 attendees who come for the fabulous array of crafts and the all-day entertainment that over the years has included b-boy battles, workshops, fire-eaters, kid-friendly rock shows, fashion shows, belly dancers and more! Our 8th year running, we expect another exciting display of creative talent, entertainment and fun for all!
