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Arts and Crafts Affair Saturday in BL [UPDATED]
Published 10:56am Tuesday, August 7, 2012 Updated 12:23pm Tuesday, August 7, 2012It’s a day of fun, music, food and, of course, art. For the 35th consecutive year, Art of the Lakes in Battle Lake will put on its annual “Arts and Crafts Affair.” The juried show will feature about 90 exhibitors from five states.
“The advantage to having a juried show is that we can make sure the things being sold are primarily original and handmade,” said Arts and Crafts Affair administrator Reba Gilliand. “It weeds out the mass-produced products for resell and ensures arts and crafts displayed are interesting and unique.”
The event will take place rain or shine from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, at Railroad Park. The Arts and Crafts Affair is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Art of the Lakes, a non-profit organization that promotes art and art education in the community.
Visitors can expect to see a variety of new products at the show this year, including willow craft and metal art, Gilliand said.
“As always we will have plenty of garden art, clothing, sculptures, jewelry, paintings, books and music,” she said.
Some of the exhibitors selling music perform live throughout the show. Many of the food vendor favorites will also be back again, and Gilliand said she expects to see around 3,000 visitors.
Different people come for different reasons, she said.
“Some people come back every year just for the nuts,” said Gilliand. “Some come to see what’s new every year.”
The show will be set up along three blocks, so visitors can comfortably see all of the vendors, she said.
“It’s just a fun day,” said Gilliand. “It’s something people look forward to every year.”
