Pocono State Craft Festival Reviews.

I did this show twice and wont be back. I was farthest spot both years. Way in the back by the pig sty. The first year this spot was $250 the second year an email was sent out "if you want a corner send me $25" so i did thinking it would get me a better spot. NOPE they put me in the same spot! When I pulled in and got space assignment, I said they can refund me the $25 as its the same (lousy) spot you gave me last year. No, no refunds I was told. My sales were not in the right percentage to go back. But for the jerk around on the $25 alone I wouldnt go back. Just not how you treat people. Nice venue, but I even noticed a decline in the maintenance and animal care at this "historical working farm". I cannot recommend this to anyone. Remote location so the show relies on people already knowing about it to come.

Posted by: sandy | 01/31/2019 at 09:29 AM

Medium: 3D mixed media
Year you most recently exhibited at this Show: 2016
Your Estimated Sales at this Show: $501-$2000
Price Range of your Work: $20-$200
Number of Years You have Exhibited in this Show:
1st time
Number of Years You have been doing Art Fairs overall: 3-5 years
Attendance: (1 is poor, 5 is great) 5
Location: 4
Facilities: 4
Ease of Participating: 5
Sales: 5
Overall: 5
Booth Fee vs. Your Sales Ratio: Good
Estimated Attendance: 501-10,000 people

Good Things about this Art Fair:
This was my first year, and they gave me a spot right up front where people come in! I thought that was a generous decision, as many shows will stick first-timers off in a corner somewhere.

Parking for exhibitors is in a lot right next to the exhibition space, which makes it easy to pack up at the end of the show.

Quiet Valley is a nice location and the outdoor spaces seem mostly flat and relatively even to set up on. The turnout was great Saturday and even some of Sunday until the weather turned.

Parking for visitors is farther off, but they provide shuttles so that helps!

Free coffee and tea and homemade pastries are provided for exhibitors both mornings, and there was a great dinner for those who paid for it Saturday night. Definitely worth it.

Other vendors were all very nice and encouraging, which is really important to me as a younger exhibitor. Some shows, the older artists and craftsmen will snub you.

I made out quite well in sales, at just over 3x the booth cost. This show also wasn't far away for me, so I didn't really have extra costs.

Bad Things about this Art Fair:
Seasoned exhibitors told me the show hasn't been what it used to be, but I've heard that from most of the shows I've done.

I spotted the turkeys on premises trying to eat one potter's plants, and then pecking another potter's work. Eep!

Some of the vendor spots that were farther off from the meat of the show seemed like they weren't really getting visitors when I walked through.

Advice to Other Artists Considering this Show:
If you can, get a spot in the heart of the show. Bring a fan or something, as that August heat is killer. There's food available for sale, but you may be better off bringing food to keep you going through the show. The crowd definitely appreciates art and the costs, but my $40-$55 works sold best, so perhaps keep that price range in mind?

Oh, and keep your stuff out of reach of the turkeys!

Posted by: Melissa Benzinger McGlynn | 01/23/2017 at 01:08 AM

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