Wrap-Up of North Country Fair

Wow, what a weekend! I just wrapped up participating in one of the biggest local art fair events for the year--a two-day festival that was all about art and crafting. What a whirlwind!

The event itself has been around a very long time, and now the children of the organizers have grown up and stayed involved. It is well known in Humboldt County as the event one goes to specifically to see artists and buy art. It's also one of the rare juried events here that one has to apply to and get approval to vend, as they don't want too many of the same type of artisan at the event. I applied last year and didn't get in, and each year's participants are different, so this was a real opportunity for me. 

I am deeply thankful that I was invited to participate. It was a blast! 

Not only did I see many of the artist friends I've seen at various other events I've attended throughout the year, I didn't see a lot of the non-art vendors I know who attend other types of events. This one was very definitely about art, not necessarily about "all things regional". There were many non-profits involved in the event, but the hallmarks of other events (like food booths and trucks) were relatively absent. Because I know enough about California events licensing, I know that there are certain permits and requirements of events when certain types of vendors are permitted. I know that for Farmer's Markets, for example, a sink with water and trash are required and only a certain percentage of booths may be non-food oriented. I have to wonder if the regulations for art/craft fairs have similar stipulations when it comes to percentages and type of non-artisan vendors. 

But there were bands, and alcohol, and two parades. Yes, parades. The Saturday parade was called the All-Species Parade and is all about environmentalism and cosplay, celebrating elaborate costumes and masks that center the vast panoply of creatures in the animal kingdom. It was a hoot! 

The second parade on Sunday was the very popular Samba Parade, put on by two different Brazilian dance organizations that offer dance lessons in preparation for the event beginning two months prior! The parade is apparently 40 years old, and some of the children of the early participants are now dancing themselves! 

And the drums... The drums!!

(Here's a really good news segment about it, too: https://www.redwoodnews.tv/local-news/samba-parade-delights-north-country-fair/article_3df393a9-8926-4f23-8dc3-3c48048a3c06.html)

It was a good event for us--the first day being twice as successful as the second, to be honest. But once again, I was able to meet some great people and share my work with a whole slew of folks who'd never seen it.

I met a charming older retiree couple on their anniversary visiting the Redwoods for the first time from Tennessee. One of their tires had to get repaired, and before they got to see the trees they had to stay in Arcata while it was being fixed. They happened to hear music and wandered into the fair. Their happy curiosity landed them in the middle of one of the most Peak Humboldt events ever, and they were delighted! Getting to meet them was a highlight of my weekend! 

And then there were my booth-neighbors: Colleen Clifford, who makes stained glass, and Seth Simpson, who does ceramic pottery (who sadly doesn't have a website). Both charming folks who are clearly at the pinnacle of their careers with gorgeous pieces who were incredibly friendly and gracious and cheerful. I traded pieces with both of them ( I think I got the better deal) and they were phenomenally positive. It made the entire event wonderfully comfortable because they were great neighbors. 

The weather was lovely for the most part--it wasn't too sunny and overwhelmingly hot, nor was it drizzly and wet. It was overcast most of the time, but it wasn't cold. The temperature dropped in the late afternoon on both days, but it wasn't unbearable. And it certainly didn't deter patrons from coming to the event. 

It was a great weekend. And again, I met a lot of people who had never seen my work, and twenty new people signed up for my newsletter. North Country Fair is the last vending event I'll be doing until November 13th & 14th where I'll be participating in Fig Twig Holiday Market.