The Brandywine Valley’s premier Fine Craft Fair, this 3^rd annual summer event brings thousands of loyal art patrons and festival goers to Wilmington’s Riverfront in search of exquisite contemporary and traditional crafts.  

The recent resurgence of interest in the handmade craft movement can be linked to the public’s desire to support local artists and buy handmade goods. To that end, the Pennsylvania Guild promotes only craftspeople who individually design and create each piece of craft. This requirement makes the Guild’s Fine Craft Fair different from other shows. 

“We accept only the best,” explained Guild Executive Director Sherrie Boyer. “Our Standards Committee juries and scores thousands of crafts for quality during the application process.  We also do a second jurying on site to make sure the work displayed is the same high quality as the work they applied with.  It’s not about numbers for us, it’s about quality, whether we are jurying a national or local artist. We only work with the very best craftspeople.”

Explore thousands of one-of-a-kind, individually handmade works by over 180 craftspeople in glass, jewelry, pottery, wood, metal, decorative and wearable fiber, furniture and more.   The Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair is an opportunity to support the region’s best craftspeople while finding functional and decorative craft.

Buying quality, local, fine crafts is better for the environment because many craftspeople observe sustainable practices.  They are conscious about the impact their creative process has on the earth and future generations and help reduce their waste by using reclaimed and repurposed materials.  This year, any craftsman using sustainable practices will be identified with a “Guild Green” sign.

“Our Fine Craft Fairs are about connecting people,” said Boyer. “Whether we link a collector with a local artist, educate children about American-made crafts or explain the process involved in creating a single piece of pottery, our Fine Craft Fairs are designed to get people talking about, and celebrating, fine handmade crafts. “

Discover an artist from your neighborhood and start a conversation about local pastimes and shared geography.  Supporting craftspeople in your state or region is as important as supporting your local restaurant. Craftspeople are small business owners, who pay local taxes and support local institutions just like you. Local, regional, and national craftspeople exhibit annually at the Pennsylvania Guild Fine Craft Fair.  This year, there are more than 30 craftsmen participating who live within a 30 mile radius of downtown Wilmington.  More than half of the Fair’s 180 craftspeople live within a 100 mile radius.