The town’s largest craft fair returns to Needham High Saturday, Oct. 26, for its 41st year. The event features 101 booths selling handcrafted items and a bake sale with items brought by the community, including local restaurants and businesses.
Beth McCarthy, who has chaired the fair for the past three years, said it is really an artisan fair — meaning participants “make and crate” the products they sell. She said her team works hard to invite a variety of vendors and create a layout that allows shoppers to flow among tables filled with ceramics, jewelry, health and beauty products, clothing and some unique homemade foods. Â
“It’s an opportunity to get going for the holidays,” said McCarthy. “But you can get all sorts of nice gifts for teachers, the holidays, birthdays … yourself.”
McCarthy said it is really a whole-community event.
“We engage the community to volunteer and support it,” she said. “We really engage students more than anything, and the vendors have been so thrilled with that. There is so much spirit among the students and the vendors.” The craft fair also gives back, raising funds for the high school parent-teacher council.
Planning for the fair begins early in the year, with vendor submissions due in March. Once all applications are in, the team sorts through the many options to create what they believe will be the ideal shopping experience. This year, 60% of the booths are returning vendors.
“There’s a lot of hype in the community about joining the show,” said McCarthy. In the past two years, she said they have had so many applicants that they started a waiting list — helpful in cases of last-minute cancellations. And once again this year, there’s another reason to go: Officer Rocket, the Police Department’s golden retriever, will be there, perhaps with an eye on pet crafts.
The Craft Fair runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the two Needham High School gyms. Admission will be $5 per person.
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