Newmarket’s artisans will get a new spotlight as NewMakeIt hosts its inaugural Makers Festival July 23.
The festival at the non-profit organization’s facility on Timothy Street will feature live music, food and demonstrations like blacksmithing and wheel-thrown pottery. There will also be local vendors showcasing their wares.
NewMakeIt marketing assistant Shaelyn Armstrong said the event is a way to bring more attention to the local artisan community.
“We hope to achieve awareness of the creations of these artisan makers. Just to showcase the talent in York Region,” she said. “We hope to achieve a fairly high turnout … we just want to set this in motion to become an annual event.”
NewMakeIt is a digital hub offering workshops and space for burgeoning businesses. The new festival will be hosted at the facility, with 38 vendors participating.
"Essentially, it will just be a day of fun to see the different artisans work, and just relax," Armstrong said.
She further said the festival represents a strong opportunity for the smaller businesses that use their facilities.
“Small businesses have a hard time finding spaces where they can showcase their products and their goods,” she said. “This is kind of a platform where they can have a bigger venue and a bigger audience.”
The event will feature multiple live musical performances along with food provided by The George Brew House. There will also be raffles, including a 50/50 draw, Toronto Blue Jays tickets and items donated by vendors. There will also be games to play.
“It’s just going to be a good time,” Armstrong said. “A good time to hang out with friends and family and just get out.”
The free event will run from 1 to 8 p.m. at 621 Timothy St. More information is available at newmakeit.com.
