Bastards - Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair

What is it?
Now in its 9th year, Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair is an exhibition and sale of handmade alternative arts and crafts from independent artists presented by the Washington City Paper. Crafty Bastards will be held outdoors on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012 in the Union Market parking lot. Admission is $5. Enjoy 2-for-1 admission when you purchase tickets online in advance. Crafty Bastards 2012 will feature 140+ vendors. Browse the Crafty Bastards Vendor Gallery for a sneak peek of the vendors and the awesomeness they will have for sale at the show. Join the Crafty Bastards email list and connect with us on your favorite social network to get festival updates.

Why are we doing it?
As D.C.'s premier alternative newsweekly, City Paper promotes underground art and strives to connect the voice and vision of the indie craft community with our readers. In our Classifieds section, in print and online, we have a special Crafty Bastards advertising section through which craftspeople can sell their wares. We also post craft related info on the Crafty Bastards blog, Cut the Craft, where we invite talented crafters to share their knowledge and expertise with the public. Every fall we hold the fair which creates an experience where the urban consumer can discover unconventional, hard-to-find arts and crafts, meet the artists, and even try making something themselves.

When is this event and how do I find it?

Crafty Bastards is Saturday, November 10, 2012 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. The ninth annual event will be our first show at an exciting new location— Union Market, located at 1309 5th Street NE in Washington, D.C., and accessible via the NoMa-Gallaudet University/New York Ave. station on Metro's Red line.

Read the FAQ for more information.

What kinds of crafts will I find?
You won't find mass produced or imported goods here. You will find talented vendors handpicked by a select jury for their DIY chops and singular vision selling things you never knew existed and that you may never see again! There'll be surprises at every booth including reconstructed clothing, punk-rock baby clothes, handcrafted jewelry, whimsical and demented plush toys, handspun yarn, screen-printing, avant-garde art and much more!

Event History
In 2004, City Paper held the first Crafty Bastards Arts & Crafts Fair at the Columbia Heights Community Marketplace. We featured 150 vendors, food, and bands. In 2005, Crafty Bastards moved to the Marie Reed Learning Center in Adams Morgan, and every year since has featured more than 100 indie craft vendors, tasty food vendors, generous sponsors, and fabulous prizes. The event has has grown to attract over 30,000 attendees who come for the fabulous array of crafts and the all-day entertainment that over the years has included b-boy battles, workshops, fire-eaters, kid-friendly rock shows, fashion shows, belly dancers and more!

In 2008 we hosted a spring show that focused on learning, workshops, up-and-coming artists, and those newer to the indie craft scene.

In 2011, we added a special Young & Crafty section that featured young makers between the ages of 9-18 years old. That year we also introduced a Food Craft section that celebrated the burgeoning D.I.Y. food movement. The program featured a D.I.Y. Salon that hosted some of the area’s best culinary talent as they taught exciting craft food techniques, a Crafty Food Market that displayed and served great artisanal food—and the highlight, the Crafty Food Awards, which crowned the city’s best food crafters.

Our 9th year running, we expect another exciting display of creative talent, entertainment and fun for all!

Still have questions?
See our Frequently Asked Questions.