Mad River Valley Craft Fair takes over Kenyon’s Field this weekend
August 31, 2023 | By Waterbury Roundabout
Vendors line up in outdoor booths at the Mad River Craft Fair over Labor Day weekend. Courtesy photo
Dozens of artists, food vendors, musicians and more converge on Kenyon’s Field on Waitsfield this weekend for the 52nd Annual Mad River Valley Craft Fair to support the nonprofit Valley Players community theater group.
Open both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the event features more than 80 artist vendors from around Vermont and New England as well as live music, a food court, kids’ activities including free face-painting and lawn games, and door prizes.
'Birch Falling Leaves' by Stowe artist Gina McHugh of Twirling Tree Art. Courtesy image
There is a $5 cash entry fee for adults and teens; kids age 12 and under are free.
Several of the artists are from the Waterbury-Stowe area. From Waterbury, Dorothy Goulet brings her original flora paintings from her Art in a Cave studio; Alixandra Klein of Alixandra Barron Designs makes sustainable, elegant, and durable jewelry out of discarded bike tires; and Megan Karcher of Willough Designs will have whimsical art and handmade stickers.
From Stowe, Gina McHugh of Twirling Tree Art brings her creative original art inspired by nature, and Natalie Carr of Wild Woogs in Morrisville offers one-of-a kind homemade upcycled fabric art “for the wild at heart.”
Several special presentations are:
Saturday, 11 a.m.-noon: The Dinoman Science show will use magic, clever explanations and props to present a dynamic program of dinosaurs, science and fun for all ages.
Sunday, 11 a.m.-noon: Yoga with Emma is a chance to check out Emma Delphin’s Vinyasa yoga classes (bring your own mat or towel) that are inclusive of all levels and people with the goal to increase balance and strength.
Saturday and Sunday, noon to 2 p.m.: Kathy Mehuron, author of the new book “Take Me Back: An Anecdotal History of the Mad River Valley,” will sign books and talk about her new nonprofit, Take Me Back.
This upcycled bracelet by craft show vendor Alixandra Klein of Alixandra Barron Designs is made from discarded bike tires. Courtesy photo
The fair has four bands on its schedule: Green Mountain Swing, a 17-piece “big band” that recently appeared at the Burlington Discover Jazz Festival is on Saturday morning; the Some Hollow Duo will perform indie rock/pop and alt-country tunes Saturday afternoon; Madigan Linnane, an emerging musician who splits her time between Berkeley School of Music and the Mad River Valley performs modern folk/pop/indie songs Sunday morning; the Medicine Tribe returns on Sunday afternoon featuring Colleen Mari Mays and Brent Thomas playing Americana-style covers and original songs.
Food and beverage vendors include Rick’s Chuckwagon with hot dogs, sausage sandwiches, burgers, fries, grilled cheese and more; Dougy Fresh Catering is new this year with lamb, beef, chicken, or vegan gyros, fried risotto balls and Vermont-made sodas; also new is Mexico in Vermont with tacos, tamales, quesadillas and pastel tre leches for dessert; Wilcox’s lemonade and ice cream will have sweet treats.
The Valley Players community theater group took over the annual craft fair in 1989 after 19 years of private ownership. Managed by Laura Arnesen and staffed by numerous volunteers, proceeds from the fair are used to maintain the Valley Players Theater on Main Street in Waitsfield.
“The Craft Fair is our major source of funding for the year and is vital for the upkeep of our building,” said Ruth Ann Pattee from the group’s board of directors. “We hope our family of vendors and visitors alike will stop by our information tent as you enter the Fair to learn more about the Valley Players and our upcoming productions.”
Arnesen thanks the local businesses and organizations that donated items for the fair’s door prizes as well.
Event organizers also ask that attendees please leave pets at home. The full lists of artists and door prizes, as well as directions and more information are online at madrivercraftfair.com.