Fine Art and Handcrafts Festival Set for Saturday

"It’s always a fun way to spend a day, indoors and out," Ocean City Public Relations Director Mark Soifer says.

The huge Ocean City Fine Art and Handcraft Festival will be presented by the Jersey Shore Artisans Guild on Saturday, July 21, in the and Carey Stadium, just off the Boardwalk at Sixth Street.  Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Browse through thousands of imaginative creations from furniture to fine art, jewelry to jigsaws, wind chimes to waterfalls, fancy candy to Raggedy Andy and gourmet treats galore.     

Guild Director JoAnne Schaut explains, “Since we began in 2002, our July, November and March fairs have raised over $170,000 for area charities including the Ocean City Food Cupboard, the Atlantic City Rescue Mission, American Red Cross and Salvation Army.

Beginning with this festival, Gilda’s Club South Jersey, a support community for people living with cancer, their families and friends, will share in the funds raised through the rental of 65 booths, 14 rows of outdoor tents and all of the $3 donations.  

The club was founded in memory of Gilda Radner, best known to Saturday Night Live audiences as the crotchety news commentator Emily Litella and Roseanne Roseannadana, whose infectious catch phrase was “It’s always something.”

“These are the only fine art and handcraft shows that require all booths to display a sign stating that every offering has been handcrafted by the artisan selling it”, Schaut proudly notes.  “We’re all-American.  If a new exhibitor has slipped through our screening process and is discovered with any imported items they are quietly invited to leave.”      

Many exhibitors travel long distances to present their exclusive creations in Ocean City. 

James Millar of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire designs folding chairs of wood and rope with a nautical look.  Large cubes with a board game on each side are the creation of Peter Blose from St. Johnsbury, New Hampshire.

Martha Becker of The Elephant’s Ear in Danville, Vermont offers chuildren’s hats and sweaters, dog and cat treats and kits for making hooked rugs.  All three of these artisans make the trip just for the day.  For some, Ocean City is their only event in the state.

 Visitors may sample gourmet treats at the Country Herbs Dipping Station.  Milville’s Sue Totino offers homemade jams, jellies, cakes and sweetbreads while Donna Fox of Foxes R Nuts of Newfield, NJ offers Polynesian fruit mixes of raisins, apricots, apples, pineapple, banana and papaya.

 Parking is available at 5^th Street and the Boardwalk, one block from the festival.

— News release from the City of Ocean City