MISSOULA — The Adams Center at the University of Montana has been home to the Holiday Made Fair for the past 10 years.
With over 200 vendors that range from artists to local businesses and non-profits, it was a great way for the community of Missoula to come together and support local artists.
The Holiday Made Fair, which is in its 16th year, was as busy as ever on Sunday, December 10, 2023, as people showed up early to browse the art, pick out some clothes, and get a look at people’s handmade creations. The main goal of the Made Fair is to get the best variety of vendors possible for the event when Handmade Montana makes its selections.
“So it’s pretty competitive to get in and we try to have a mix of vendors we have a couple of families that do the events so they have some kids that are doing some of the work and then we also have the seasoned professionals… and fine art, events coordinator Carol Lynn Lapotka explained. "So, it’s a really great diverse crowd of artists and it’s not just jewelry or ceramics so there’s some very unique items that you’ll only find at events like this and not kind of in your big box stores”
Along with supporting local artists and craftspeople at the Holiday Made Fair, people could also donate to a local non-profit that was chosen to benefit from the purchase of an early access VIP ticket. This year’s non-profit was the Community Food and Agriculture Coalition whose goal is to grow a healthy food community by preserving farmland.
“Well, it’s wonderful to be a part of something so local and so when people are coming in and supporting local artists and businesses they are also supporting local food and local farmers," Community Food and Agriculture Coalition director Bonnie Buckingham said. "And so I think it’s just a really great partnership that they put together this year and we really appreciate the community’s support.”
The next Made Fair from Handmade Montana will take place in the summer of 2024.
