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Saybrook Crafts Festival Is Back, But in October

After a year off, the 57th annual Old Saybrook Chamber of Commerce Arts and Crafts Festival will return to the Town Green on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 2 and 3. The festival features around 100 artists and crafter from all across New England and even as far away as Florida.

The event, which offers free admission and free parking, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The chamber promises that the vendors returning to the show will maintain the high quality for which the festival has become known.

“It’s a juried show, which means the committee works hard to ensure that the exhibitor handcrafts the items they are selling, said Chamber Executive Director Judy Sullivan.

The crafts are available in categories like acrylics, graphics, mixed media, oils, pastels, photography, sculpture, watercolors, ceramics, pottery, consumables, fiber, glass, jewelry, leather, metal, wood, and embellishment. Food and refreshment trucks will be available. The major sponsor for the event is Fitzgerald Painting.

The festival is an Old Saybrook tradition that dates back decades. It’s usually held in July of each year but, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event had to be canceled in 2020 and organizers didn’t want to have to do so again in 2021. In February, the chamber board unanimously voted to move the date to October in the hopes that more time would give the chamber a way to feasibly pull off the event.

“When we had to make a decision, there’s so much leading up to the event and so much organization that goes into it that we had to postpone it,” Chamber Marketing Coordinator Meryl Moskowitz said. “It seemed like October was a safe bet, weather-wise and COVID-wise.”

The festival is annually a big draw in Old Saybrook. Attendance estimates in years past have been as high as 10,000 visitors to the fair across the two days.

“It means a lot to us and it means a lot to the town,” said Moskowitz.

Moskowitz says that the festival always brings people to town, which benefits more than the merchants.

“I always look forward to seeing the new exhibits and reconnecting with people as well. It’s a festive happy atmosphere and I think it shows off the town in a good light,” said Moskowitz.