The Annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair is the oldest, continuously running craft fair in the US. The first Annual Craftsmen’s Fair in 1933 (one year after the League was founded) was held in a barn at the Crawford House in Crawford Notch. There were demonstrations of pottery, weaving, vegetable dyeing, basketmaking and woodcarving in the barn. The blacksmith shop was used for ironworking. The horse stalls were used for exhibitions and sales, and the lawn was used for entertainment and chorus singing of old songs and country dancing. Sales totaled $2,698 and it was deemed a great success.

Over the years, the Fair was held in different venues and the number of attendees continued to grow. The focus and intent of the Fair was always constant – to provide its juried members with an opportunity to showcase their fine handcraft and to educate the public about the value and artistry of handmade craft.

Today approximately 35,000 people attend this prestigious craft fair, which is held at the Mount Sunapee Resort in Newbury, located in the beautiful Dartmouth-Lake Sunapee region of New Hampshire. It has been held at Mount Sunapee Resort for 34 years. At the base of the mountain, there is a fairground of white tents with beautifully appointed craft booths, where visitors can speak with individual craftspeople,learn about their craft, and purchase from them. Contemporary and traditional fine handcraft in virtually every type of craft medium, including furniture, jewelry, glass, pottery, prints, metalwork, fiber arts,woodcarvings, weaving, sculptures, and leatherwork, are on display. These handcrafted items represent the fine skill and creativity of more than 350 juried members of the League of NH Craftsmen.

There are daily demonstrations and workshops for all ages on the traditional methods of making fine handcraft. Glass blowing, weaving, calligraphy and paper making, blacksmithing, woodcarving, and furniture building – these are some of the craftmaking skills that will be on display. These demonstrations and workshops are given by juried members of the League of NH Craftsmen, as well as invited guests from the New Hampshire Potters Guild, Guild of New Hampshire Woodworkers, Granite State Woodcarvers, Granite State Woodturners, New Hampshire Art Association, Bead Society of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Polymer Clay Guild, New Hampshire Spinners & Dyers Guild, Soonipi Quilters Guild, Northeast Basketmakers, White Mountain Woolen Magic, Dorr Mill Fiber Guild, Monadnock Knitters Guild, New Hampshire Weavers Guild, New Hampshire chapter of the Embroiderer’s Guild of America, and the Bedford (NH) Friendship Quilt Guild.

Unique Craft Exhibitions Showcase Handcrafted Items in Use

Two museum-quality craft exhibitions, Living With Craft and CraftWear, and an outdoor Sculpture Garden, illustrate the practical and decorative use of handcrafted items. Living With Craft features tastefully decorated room settings furnished entirely with handmade furniture and room accessories.  CraftWear features “art-to-wear” clothing, jewelry, and accessories. The outdoor Sculpture Garden includes pieces such as bird feeders, outdoor furnishings, and both large and small landscape sculpture.

This year, a special Craftsmen’s Fair Birthday Bash will be held on Thursday evening, August 7, featuring dinner and entertainment by folk and blues singer Tom Rush. Rush, who was born in Portsmouth, NH, helped shape the folk revival in the 1960s and its renaissance in the 1980s and 1990s. His distinctive guitar style, wry humor and warm,expressive voice have made him both a legend and a lure to audiences around the world.  His shows are filled with the terrific story-telling, beautiful ballads, and gritty blues.

During the Birthday Bash, the League of NH Craftsmen will present awards to juried members of the League for craft excellence and education, as well as recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the Fair and the League. The evening will be topped off with a fireworks display by Atlas PyroVision Productions. Tickets are $40 per person for the dinner, Tom Rush concert, and fireworks; $25 per person for the Tom Rush concert and fireworks only. Tickets can be purchased on the League’s website, http://www.nhcrafts.org.

To commemorate the Annual Craftsmen’s Fair 75th birthday, limited edition serigraphs and posters, created by juried League member and printmaker, William Mitchell, will be available for sale during the Fair. This print is Mitchell’s interpretation of the Annual Craftsmen’s Fair craft tents set in the natural beauty of Mount Sunapee Resort. The limited edition serigraphs and posters will be sold at the Fair and are also available through the League’s website, http://www.nhcrafts.org (in Annual Craftsmen’s Fair section).

Visitors to this year’s fair will have an opportunity to learn about the League’s rich history by viewing a film documentary, A LEAGUE OF OUR OWN: New Hampshire and the American Craft Movement.  Produced to mark the League’s 75th anniversary last year, this film provides a unique and entertaining look at the history of the League, and features several interviews with past and current League members, many of whom are exhibiting at the Fair. It will be shown at regular intervals during the Fair.

The Annual Craftsmen’s Fair is a must-attend event for craft collectors, and those who want to be. For those attendees who are interested in learning more about investing in a collection of fine craft, the Fairwill also feature a Collector’s Forum. Avid collectors and fine handmade craft experts will discuss what to look for in a collection, how to get started, and the advantages from a financial and personal perspective of investing in fine craft.

Tour with a Master provides fairgoers with an in-depth view of how a particular craft is made. A League member will take fairgoers on a 30-minute tour of the craft booths and exhibitions, providing detailed commentary on the techniques and artistry that go into making that craft.  Fairgoers will gain a greater appreciation for the quality and uniqueness of fine handcrafted items as well as the standards the League uses to determine membership.

Daily musical performances complement the lively atmosphere of the Fair and are included in theadmission price. High-caliber country, bluegrass, Latin, folk, jazz, and blues musicians and performers will appear in the Performing Arts Tent.

The lead media sponsor for the 75th Annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair is Comcast. The Fair will be open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, rain or shine, from August 2-10. Admission is $10 for adults; $8for seniors, students, active duty military (with ID), and groups of 20 or more. Admission is free for

children 12 and under. A ticket includes admission to all exhibitions and demonstrations, as well as a second day free return to the Fair. This year, visitors can purchase tickets in advance on the League’s website, www.nhcrafts.org. This is a great way to avoid the long ticket lines at the Fair gates. Tickets that are purchased on the League website after July 26 will be available for pickup at any ticket gate. Advance discounted tickets ($1 off regular price) are available until August 1 at the Lake Sunapee Region Chamber of Commerce office on 41 Main Street in New London.

Parking is free and childcare is available on site at $2 per hour. Picnic areas, as well as a food tent, indoor cafeterias, and an outdoor Garden Café (serving adult beverages) are open daily. No pets are permitted on the fairgrounds or left in cars in the parking lots.

The League of NH Craftsmen is a non-profit, craft education organization. Its mission is to encourage,nurture and promote the creation, use and preservation of fine contemporary and traditional craft through the inspiration and education of artists and the broader community. The League issupported in part by a grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information about the Fair, or the

League of NH Craftsmen, call 603-224-3375, email nhleague@nhcrafts.org, or visit

the League’s website at http://www.nhcrafts.org..