The line at the door waiting to get into the Christmas on the Fox Art and Craft Show at the Kane County Fairgrounds Saturday wasn’t a surprise to many at the event, who said last year’s pandemic restrictions during the holiday season have people looking to make the most of this year’s festivities.
The parking lot outside Robinson Hall at the fairgrounds in St. Charles was already packed before the 10 a.m. start Saturday forcing many like Marge Rowe of Elgin to walk for a few blocks before reaching the entrance.
Rowe said she had come to the show previously and was back this past Saturday after a few years’ absence.
“I’m looking for a day out. A little bit of normalcy and being back in the shopping mode,” Rowe explained. “I like that things are homemade here as you see more craft shows going corporate and commercial, and I’m looking to support the local craft people.”
The two-day Christmas on the Fox Art and Craft Show drew over 100 juried artists and plenty of shoppers looking to get out and buy something unique for the holidays.
The show was offered by Art of the Heartland – an art show business owned by Robin Reed of Rock Falls who lived for years in St. Charles. Reed said about 75% of the vendors had participated in previous shows but that because of attrition and issues related to the pandemic about 25% of the vendors were new.
“Crafters are very anxious to get back into shows and I actually have a waiting list but there are people who had to go get a regular job, so to speak, and aren’t doing the craft show thing anymore,” she said. “There are still some that are somewhat hesitant to come out for a public event. My other three shows this year have been outside, so I think people were less nervous about that.”
The weekend fair featured items handmade by the artists and included jewelry, photography, paper crafts and clothing as well as gift items that included homemade soup and dip mixes, soap, wooden signs and items that were knit by hand.
Reed believes with the holiday season having arrived and some COVID-19 restrictions relaxed, people are anxious to shop.
“The majority of people are anxious to get out there – both the crafters and the public – we missed that communication to just see people and have somebody like your work and buy it,” she said. “I haven’t had a problem filling the show. The majority of people in it are from Illinois, probably within 50 miles of here.”
Crafter Debbie Young of Lombard said this was the third time she has been at the fair and that customers have enjoyed buying her holiday decorations.
“There is a renewed energy this year and the demand is huge,” she said.
“The crowds here are always big but probably even bigger this year,” she said. “We’re seeing a lot of the same crafters back together this year.”
Kim Lodge of Huntley said she has visited other holiday craft fairs but that this was her first time coming to the one at the fairgrounds.
“I hope to find unique Christmas presents,” she said. “Things are better at something like this because they’re handmade and usually one-of-a-kind sort of things. I like the uniqueness factor.”
Donna Morkunas, also of Huntley, said she has been to four craft fairs so far this season and this time of year, “I try to go every weekend.”
“I’m looking for something cute and unique, maybe something with the Iowa Hawkeyes logo on it,” she said. “When I come to these things I never go home empty-handed. I always leave with a little extra something.”
Barb Ryan of Carpentersville waited with a number of friends outside the entry door and said this was also her first time at the fair.
“I’m an early riser and told my friends – let’s just go and have some fun,” Ryan explained. “I’m all about Christmas gifts – department stores are boring and I prefer to get handmade local stuff. My batting average at craft fairs is 10 out of 10. I always leave with a lot of stuff. COVID might have stopped some people but I never did. If there wasn’t a craft fair here, I went to Wisconsin.”
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
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Craft show at Kane Fairgrounds draws big crowd looking for a 'little bit of normalcy' during holiday season - Chicago Tribune
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