If it’s spring, it’s time for Fairhope’s big Arts & Crafts weekend. This year’s event is March 20–22, featuring more than 230 exhibitors from across the country for the 63rd annual Arts & Crafts festival, sponsored by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, plus an additional 140 exhibitors for the 43rd annual Outdoor Art Show, brought to you by the Eastern Shore Art Center. Hours for both events, which take place on the streets of downtown Fairhope and on the grounds of the Eastern Shore Art Center, are 10am to 5pm daily. There is no charge for admission.

Last year the combined events attracted more than 250,000 visitors to Fairhope. The Arts & Crafts festival was chosen as one of the “Top Twenty” events in the Southeast for March by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and is included among the top twenty events selected by the Southeast Tourism Society. Readers of Alabama Magazine also selected the festival for a “Best of Bama” award.

This year’s Outdoor Art Show will again feature an expanded Children’s Activity Area on Equality Street with bubble making, face painting, hula hooping, and more. An abundance of fun festival food will also be available in the Food Court.

BRATS (Baldwin County Area Transportation System) provides shuttle service from shopping center parking lots on Greeno Road. Parking is free and the shuttle ride costs $2 each way. Free handicapped parking is in the municipal lot on Bancroft, and there will be free valet parking for bicycles behind the Fairhope Museum of History. 

For information on the Festivals, call 251-928-6387 or 251-928-2228.

Another Arts & Crafts Weekend tradition, the 37th annual Spring Fever Chase takes place on Saturday morning, March 21. This 10K run and two-mile Fun Run/Walk winds through beautiful downtown Fairhope and along Mobile Bay. Both races start on north Bayview at Fairhope Avenue. The 10K race course is certified with USA Track and Field, the national governing body for the sport.

Local school students and their families are encouraged to represent their schools in the race. Entry forms for the school program are distributed through the schools. Schools receive $2 for each participant who registers through the school. For schools with at least twenty-five registrants, a cash award is presented to the school with the highest percentage of race participants, based on school enrollment.

Overall race registration is available by mail-in form or online. For more information, visit springfeverchase.com.