Craft Shows, Art Fairs, and Street Festivals: What's the Difference?

Winthrop Rhythm and Blues Festival - Winthrop, WA

Craft Shows, Art Fairs, and Street Festivals: What's the Difference?

My last post about the hierarchy of art & craft stimulated a bit of discussion in some of my fb arts groups. Something I realized reading through it, is that some people have a strict idea of what a venue will be like according to its name. Some artists put a lot of credit and credibility on an event named Art Fair or Fine Art & Craft show. Likewise, some of them have a very specific idea of what a Craft Show is or is not. They have a vision in their minds of what is for sale at a craft show, as if it's always the same. It's not. At all. 

I think it's really strange. Because unless you live under a gallery rock, you have to know there is a VERY broad range of shows out there. They are named to be descriptive to their audience yes, but there is no master checklist for naming a show Art or Craft or Fair or Festival or whatever. It's completely up to the organizers.

An art show can have craft, a craft fair can have art. Everything from hobbyist newbs, to 30 year masters at both. And there is a TON of work in between these two extremes. One comment I saw - under my article post (with my little rant about community) - at length laid out the problem with selling an expensive painting next to "popsicle sticks". Fucking seriously?? Have you been to ANY craft show that had popsicle stick anything? No. It's just a general shitty observation about anything "less" artsy from this person (and the many hearts and likes from like minded people too, ah community!). But snobbery isn't a factor right? It's just marketing! Grrr. The point I'm making is that you can't generalize. Every show is different, every show has a range.

Of course her overall point was valid (aside from being a douche about it), that the type of show you choose is important to your sales. As I talked about here: Find Your Shows, you need to find the right audience for what you make. That is a lot more about the people and vibe, than about the title of of the event. 

Sandy Mountain Festival - Sandy, OR

Events for Art & Craft Booths 

Moving on. I'm going to run down all the different types of shows I can think of, and the differences between them as much as I can. I guess I'll put them in order of most tightly juried handmade-only, to the least handmade focused. Again, there are no hard rules here, so let your own experience be your ultimate guide.

Note that the words Fair, Festival, and Show are interchangeable and have no real specific meaning by themselves. Also I'll note that the jury process and guidelines are not always followed by the show itself, that's true for every kind of show. But that's a whole different post for another day. Okay, let's do this!

Art Fair  or Fine Art Festival -  A fair that is "juried", meaning applicants are screened and judged to get into the show. At high fee Art Fairs work is usually priced at the higher end, and the attendees expect that. Some are limited to 2-d only (flat things for the wall). Most of them include some kind of "fine craft" as well. Sometimes they have very strict guidelines about how things are made, reproductions (prints) vs originals, no food items, etc. Some are the same as a "Craft Show" but with Art in the title. See below.

Craft Show or Art & Craft Fair -  Juried for handmade, but can vary a lot depending on the show. Some are not very competitive to get into, some are more so.  Some are very strict about handmade, some are more loose about it. Usually buy/sell, commercial goods, mlms are not allowed, but they could be. May also include non-profit information booths, kids activities, etc.

North Country Fair - Arcata, CA

Makers Fair - This is a more recent festival type, that includes anything handmade. Art, crafts, body products, premade foods, etc. Often there is a "made locally" theme. May include kid's zones, non profit booths, other community activities.

Art and Wine Festival - Any handmade event that includes wine tasting. Some are juried, I do one that allows buy/sell. Usually there are booths of wineries giving samples, people buy tickets or pay an entrance fee. Personally, I like drunk ladies shopping for my booth. Ha.

Arts and Music Festival - If it has Art in the title, usually they are focusing on the art and the music both which is good. Usually juried, not always. Note that most Art and Craft fairs have music as well. The vibe and style must match with yours. Sometimes there's a gate fee.

Music Festival - Usually not juried for handmade, most charge a gate fee. Doesn't have "Art" in the title, but still can work if the audience is your style and/or there aren't a lot of imports that compete with you. I love music and campout festivals, so the fun factor is high for me. See above.

Creamery Saturday Market - Arcata, CA

Art Market - Weekly or monthly market, juried for handmade. Often with a local focus. Usually short duration, like a Farmer's Market. Night Markets are gaining popularity as well.

Farmer's Market - Primary focus is on the farmers, many also allow local crafts and food products. Seasonal, run weekly for a number of months. Usually just 3-4 hours long.

Street Fair  - A community festival, mixed handmade with commercial booths. Not juried, anything goes.  Usually includes other activities (race, chili cook-off, parade, carnival). Pretty much every 4th of July festival, for example. I do some in my hometown, to reach my local customers and see my friends. People tend to come out for the entertainment more than to shop, in my experience.

Beer Fest - A non-juried festival focused on beer tasting. Attendees pay an entrance fee for all they can drink, lasting just 4 or 5 hours. People are mostly there to drink, they have to stand in a lot of lines. Not a ton of shopping going on, plus high levels of drunkenness. Worth a shot though if these are your people, or you just want a comfy home base for drinking beer.

Pear Festival - Kelseyville, CA

Food festival - Similar to street fair or beer fest, with a particular food as the focus. There might be an entrance fee, maybe not. Some of them are juried art fairs too, like Gilroy Garlic Festival (I think).

Bazaar - This is an old term that's back in style again. It's used to describe a table show (not 10x10 spaces), more so at holiday time, and often in a church, school gym, or community center. Usually mixed handmade along with commercial or mlm (multi level marketing) companies like LuLaroe, Paparazzi etc.  Not usually good for art, as people come looking for cheap deals. Some bazaars are all handmade though, and can be worthwhile if they are properly marketed. Table shows in general bring smaller crowds than a big outdoor festival.

Vendor Event - Ha there's that word! (Maybe this is how it got a bad rap?) Usually a "Vendor Event" is primarily for mlm companies. Not juried, although they will usually limit how many vendors of the same company are allowed. They might also include handmade. See bazaar above. 

Okay! That's my list, I hope it's helpful as you look around at the huge variety of shows where you can sell your handmade works. In the end you won't truly know what shows work for you until you try them. Its' all part of the adventure!!