The monthly Craft Fair and Flea is back for its first event of the year on Saturday, March 11. Held at Christ Lutheran Church in New Hyde Park on the first Tuesday of every month, the fair presents jewelry, customized items, handcrafted trinkets, health and wellness products, collectables and much more.
“We solicit vendors with a wide variety of talent to showcase,” said Angela Tigner, coordinator of the event. “There’s always a range of interesting handcrafted items from candles to jewelry and much more.”
The widely attended event makes use of local talent, asking residents of New Hyde Park and the surrounding communities to sign up as vendors. Those in attendance always represent various factions of Long Island as well, drawing patrons from Nassau, Suffolk and even Queens.
On Saturday, people will have the chance to peruse the stands of recurring and new vendors alike. Some items up for grabs will include, but are not limited to, custom jewelry, decorated sugar cookies, decorative glassware and various forms of art.
Tigner utilizes the event to showcase her own creations, upcycled and repurposed furniture.
“It’s vintage, it’s one of a kind, and once I make it I will never make the same things again,” said Tigner. “I tell people that if they’re going to put this in their house, I can guarantee no one else will have it.”
Tigner is always happy to accept vendors who will provide high quality items to add to the already impressive collection of unique goods.
Besides simply presenting locals with a chance to shop and socialize, the Craft Fair and Flea is dedicated to remaining a charitable function. More than anything, it is an outreach project that funds Christ Lutheran Church and its subsequent local humanitarian efforts.
“We are always supporting various charities such as Lutheran Social Services,” said Tigner. “If there are any kind of community needs, we’re willing to give and continue to support the community in any way we can.” Lutheran Social Services is a nonprofit organization that enables individuals to reach their full potential through its LIFE (Lutheran Initiatives for Enrichment) service programs.
Though the Craft Fair and Flea is a relatively new event, with its debut in September 2015, it has proved to be a community hit each time. The idea to hold the ongoing fair stemmed from a prior initiative, in which the church would accept donations of household items that people were willing to let go of, and sell each item for just $1. Since it was such a success, the decision was made to expand and transition into showcasing more upscale, genuinely handmade items.
The Craft Fair and Flea continues to be a highly anticipated community gathering time after time, where locals have an opportunity to mingle with one another while supporting the hard work of others.
The fair is set to take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Christ Lutheran Church at at 300 Hillside Drive South. The event is rain or shine. For more information, call 516-446-0570.
