The Dutchess Community College Foundation Holiday Craft Fair, which celebrated its semicentennial anniversary in 2022, offers Hudson Valley locals and visitors the opportunity to shop small (and support handmade!) Thanksgiving weekend. The foundation is now partnering with Quail Hollow Events in the promotion and organization of the decades-old fair.
Boasting just over 100 artists, the fair has become a holiday shopping tradition for many in the region, and one that stands in stark opposition to the Black Friday culture propagated by Big Box Stores. Now entering its 52nd year, the fair presents an alternative to the frenzied buying experience that Black Friday consumers experience. This is not a festival for imported or mass-produced products; everything onsite is handmade, with the artist or maker in attendance. Like Quail Hollow’s other events, this one is juried, with exhibitors thoughtfully selected to ensure a balanced assortment of handmade art, crafts, and goodies that vary widely in terms of style and taste.
Visitors will find holiday favorites, like fresh, locally sourced wreaths, delicate holiday ornaments, and tasty treats, but these seasonal staples are part of a broader sea of handcrafted pieces. The event will showcase a bevy of skilled artists and makers in over 10 media categories. Rows of carefully curated booths will display something for every taste – and for everyone on your gift list – from fine art and photography, to ceramics, jewelry, woodwork, fiber (both wearable and decorative), specialty foods, and small-batch cosmetic products like candles and soaps. Find heirloom-quality wall art and ceramics, display-worthy cutting boards, wearable art like sweater-scarves, wraps and cold weather necessities, and fine jewelry (ranging from classic to quirky to modern).
Dutchess Community College, Field House and Cafeteria, Poughkeepsie NY
