New Hampshire Craft Fairs

I love New Hampshire, and whenever I visit the Granite State I try to attend at least one arts and crafts fair or festival. You can find a variety of New Hampshire crafts festivals and art shows to attend at any time of the year; spring and summer are the most popular seasons for outdoor craft fairs.

New Hampshire fine crafts festivals are creative family-oriented events that take place throughout the year. In winter you'll find them in auditorium settings, town halls and school gymnasiums or galleries. My favorite New Hampshire festivals, though, are the fall and harvest season craft shows that take place both inside and outdoors during the foliage season.

Whether you enjoy basic hometown craft fairs to more elegant fine arts festivals you'll find a New Hampshire arts and crafts event in almost any region of the Granite State - from the more suburban south to the rural north - from January through December.

Attending a crafts festival is a unique experience. You get to really experience the arts - and the life of a crafts artist - at a fine crafts fair. At a crafts fair or festival you can browse (often outdoors, in brilliant weather) through displays of a wide variety of crafts - or a grouping of one type of craft item made by many different artists.

You can take your time visiting each booth, tent, table to table or gallery, stopping to browse or talk with the artistans and designers. If you find an item you like you can buy it immediately. Or, if you find an artist whose style you really love but you want a custom piece, you can discuss your ideas and negotiate a price on the spot. If you're interested in the creative process behind fine crafts, you can watch as they create original pieces or demonstrate techniques at many crafts festivals.

Photo: Handcrafted jewelry by Mark White (League of NH Craftsmen juried member)

Arts and crafts is a major industry in the Granite State. At almost any regional event you can find craftsmen and artists featured as part of the festivities. Often a seasonal event will include specialized crafts and artworks related to the theme - for example, you'll find wonderful harvest crafts at pumpkin and apple festivals; winter events will almost always include a variety of holiday crafts, cards and art for sale. If it's cultural and outdoors, you're almost certain to find arts and crafts at your next New Hampshire event. Here's a list of regional and seasonal arts and crafts festivals held throughout the state in New Hampshire.

Explore historic and contemporary arts and crafts in New Hampshire's towns and cities.

I love fine crafts and the arts play a big role in my life.

I enjoy visiting New England craft festivals and shows to see the work of other artists and new, emerging crafters. Tell us about your favorite arts and crafts fair - in New Hampshire, New England or anywhere in the world.