The annual Fairy Lake Artisan Festival is back this weekend after a two-year pandemic hiatus.
"It would have been our 25th if COVID hadn't gotten in the way. So we're at 23 years right now," said Laura Poole, co-chair of the event hosted by the North Newmarket Lions Club.
The festival runs June 18 and 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. It features about 60 vendors who will be set up along the trail by Fairy Lake in Newmarket.
Those vendors will be offering pottery, jewelry, macrame, woodwork, greeting cards, signs, flower design, leatherwork, and visual art, just to list a few. Visitors will be able to shop and support the artists. There will also be a barbecue and strawberries and ice cream from the North Newmarket Lions and Newmarket Swans.
The last Fairy Lake Artisan Festival was in 2019. COVID-19 prevented them from holding it for the past two years and Poole said she is excited to be getting back.
"It's a busy time, but it's fun meeting all the people and seeing all the people come through," she said.
Admission is free and Poole said they are expecting a big crowd, especially with Pride events on Main Street Saturday, which will bring more people to the area.
She said the weather is looking good for the weekend, sunny but not too hot, however the event does run rain or shine.
"I had one potter who was there and she was up to practically her ankles in in water and she stuck it out and she said she had the best weekend she'd had," Poole said of a previous festival.
While admission is free, there will be donation boxes set up on site. The funds raised support North Newmarket Lions programs, which in turn gives back to the community. This includes Coats for Kids every winter, the recent furnishing of a room at Margret Bahen Hospice, and an upcoming sneaker and sweater drive set for the end of August.
