MISSOULA – The Missoula Holiday Made Fair at the University of Montana showcased over 200 local artists, artisans and non-profits on Sunday.
Missoula painter Jamie Swartz, with Fence Line Designs, sold prints of original paintings and said this was a good opportunity to provide affordable art.
“I feel like a lot of people in Missoula want art, local artists, but they can’t necessarily afford the original,” Swartz said. “So this is an opportunity for them to get an original-esque in their house. Local artists, being supported, it’s awesome.”
This was Schwartz’s first year at the fair, and first time setting up a booth at any market.
The fair opened at 11 a.m., with lines starting to form by 10:30. The parking lot filled fast and 2,000 people were in the doors before noon with almost 5,000 coming through by 1 p.m
Folks strolled through all the Adams Center to check out everything from soap and hammocks to robots and 3D printers.
Janet Hawthorne uses rope from the UM gym to make dog toys, as well as dog leashes and collars. She says it was also her first year at the fair.
“It’s been awesome! Its definitely been busy, kind of a steady stream of people, but not too crowded. It seems like everybodys having a lot of fun. Its been a great day,” Hawthorne saod.
The fair is put on by HandMADE Montana and has been running since 2007. They have multiple events throughout the year in Bozeman, Helena and Missoula.
-Katie Miller reporting for MTN News
