Patty Meighan of Aurora likes visiting craft fairs and found one to her liking on Saturday along the Fox River in North Aurora.
“I’ve not been to this particular craft fair before,” Meighan said at the third annual Creativity at the Crossroads arts and crafts fair at Riverfront Park in the village. “It’s a beautiful day and I’m hoping to find a rabbit – Peter Rabbit. I collect figurines and I find them at flea markets and sometimes at big box stores. As far as something else, you never know want might turn up, but I always go home with something.”
More than 60 artists and crafters were on hand for the event, offering things for sale in a range of mediums that included everything from the usual oil and watercolor paintings to jewelry, clay and ceramic items, photography, items made from repurposed materials and user-friendly products including soaps and candles.
Natalie Stevens, community relations coordinator for the village of North Aurora, said only one vendor dropped out before the opening of the event, which was set to run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“We had a healthy wait list, so we’re still looking at over 60 vendors as well as food trucks and a bunch of activities for the public to enjoy,” she said before the event. “The goal this year remains to have the biggest and best Crossroads event we’ve ever had.”
The village collaborated on the event this year with Messenger Public Library, the Aurora Lions Club and Waubonsee Community College, which were offering free arts and crafts activities for attendees.
More than 150 people were strolling through the various booths and tents set up along the Fox River in North Aurora within the first 30 minutes of the event on Saturday.
Caroline Meighan of Woodland, Washington, said she was visiting her mother and is drawn to “locally-made goods and we like to support local businesses that are around.”
“Almost every time I go, I come home with something,” Meighan said. “It’s rare I don’t come home without something new. I am a crafter myself and I appreciate when people are passionate about the arts and I like hearing how things are made and enjoy when people can just go on and on and tell their stories.”
Allison Yelaska of Aurora was one of the many merchants at the event. She was offering her own creations she sells through an Etsy business known as A Bit of Treasure Art.
“This is the first time I’ve been here. I do (my business) on Etsy, but I think my work presents itself better in person,” she explained.
Yelaska said the event’s site along the Fox River is a winner.
“This setting is beautiful and it would be great if more craft fairs were held in places like this,” she said. “It’s such a beautiful day and makes things more fun even if we don’t sell anything. Being by the river all day is a beautiful experience.”
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Betsy Clark of North Aurora said it was her first time shopping at the event and that she usually visits craft fairs “four or five times a year.”
“I usually come home with something. I look for stuff for the kids or those cool pictures with beads on them,” she said.
Jay Heasley of North Aurora accompanied Clark and said even though he wasn’t shopping, “it’s a beautiful day and it’s peaceful. A nice setting.”
“I have to umpire two softball games later, so this is a good way to unwind,” he said. “I’m actually a huge sports fan and when you come to these things – my buddies tease me sometimes – you always find crafters who have sports stuff and at the end of the day you get a hot dog and you’re supporting local people. That’s what it’s all about.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.