Every year, Arts & Crafts weekend ushers in spring in Fairhope. This year, the 64th annual Arts & Crafts Festival, hosted by the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, and the concurrent 44th annual Outdoor Art Show, held by the Eastern Shore Art Association, will bring hundreds of fine artists and crafters to the streets of downtown Fairhope from March 18-20.

Jurors for this year’s Arts & Crafts Festival had an abundance of great art to choose from, said Laura English, festival chair. “We easily had a 25 percent increase in applications, well over 400 from artists and crafters from all over the country and from many of our local artists, which we love to see. There will favorite artists returning and a good number who have never taken part in our show before.”

The annual Outdoor Art Show focuses on fine art and always includes a wide variety of works. “We are very pleased with the artists we have accepted this year,” said Malia Mullican, event chair. “Those attending the festival will recognize works from artists who have been part of the show in the past as well as some new to our event. It’s always exciting to introduce a new artist to Fairhope—and to introduce Fairhope to a new artist.”

Arts & Crafts features approximately 210 exhibitors while the Outdoor Art Show adds another 140 or so. The booths line the streets throughout downtown with the addition of a food court, entertainment stage, children’s areas, and more. Hours for both events are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There is no charge for admission.

BRATS (Baldwin County Area Transportation System) provides shuttle service from shopping center parking lots at the corner of Greeno and Fairhope Avenue and from Volanta Park on north 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. 

The combined events regularly attract close to 300,000 weekend visitors to Fairhope. Arts & Crafts has been recognized as a “Top Twenty” event by the Alabama Bureau of Tourism and the Southeast Tourism Society as well as a “Best of Bama” from Alabama magazine. For more information, visit annualartsandcraftsfestivalfairhope.com or esartcenter.com/events-festivals.php.

For additional information or questions, call 251-928-6387.