British Columbia is home to a vast and diverse community of professional artisans and crafters. This Labour Day weekend the Harrison Festival Society will be showcasing a sampling of this creative culture at their annual Harrison Craft Market, Aug. 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and August 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in and around the Harrison Memorial Hall. Artisans and crafters from as far away as the Okanagan and Kootenay regions will be joining a strong showing from the local Fraser Valley.
“The Fraser Valley has a vibrant arts scene and we are very pleased to be welcoming such a broad selection of unique local vendors to our small lake side Village,” says Festival Society general manager Mel Dunster.
The more than 30-plus vendors that make up this cozy indoor craft market offer the highest quality of a wide range of one-of-a-kind home decor, body care, food, fashion and artful creations amidst the small town atmosphere and hospitality of Harrison Hot Springs.
“We are proud to support and nurture locally produced handmade products,” says Dunster. “As a grassroots organization we know firsthand the importance of community minded small business in contributing to healthy communities.”
An annual community event for more than 20 years, this market is one of the main fundraising activities for the Harrison Festival Society with 10% commission collected on all vendor sales to help support the Societies' year round events.
“Not everyone realizes that we present world class entertainment throughout the year,” says Dunster, “and that we have been doing so for almost as long as we have been organizing the July Harrison Festival of the Arts.”
This fall will mark the Society’s 26th season of performing arts with an opening concert Oct. 4 featuring captivating Dene singer/songwriter Leela Gilday in the intimate Harrison Memorial Hall.
Coinciding with the Harrison Craft Market is the highly successful Bands on the Beach event presented by Tourism Harrison. (See related story.)
Admission to the Harrison Craft Market and Bands on the Beach is free. For more info and a full listing of this year's crafty vendors visit www.harrisonfestival.com, call 604.796.3664 or email info@harrisonfestival.com. For Bands on the Beach info visit www.tourismharrison.com