Arts & Entertainment
Blue Island Mai Fest Arts and Crafts Fair Returns To Old Western
The Blue Island Arts Alliance 2023 Mai Fest Arts and Crafts Fair features 100 vendors, craft beers and music Saturday, May 13.
BLUE ISLAND, IL — Arts and crafts show fans will be happy to know that the Blue Island Arts Alliance will hold Mai Fest 2023 Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday, May 13, from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
The event will start at the Blue Island Beer Company at 13357 Old Western Avenue, and run north along Old Western Avenue to Canal Street.
This year’s event builds upon the success of last year’s show, which was one of the first major outings for artists and crafters after the pandemic.
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One hundred vendors will set up along the route in storefronts, eateries, and on the street. The items offered for sale are all handcrafted, the criteria for being in the show. Goods will include everything from key chains to books. Shoppers will find jewelry, fashions, fabric creations, artwork, “monster-themed” items, candles, soaps, skincare products, toys, knick-knacks, cards, and decorative items, all unique.
Food items will include hot sauces, pickles, coffee, chocolates and sweets, and cookies for people - and their dogs. Tarot card readings will also be available.
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In addition to the Blue Island Beer Company, restaurants and pubs along the route will participate in the event. Included will be the Rock Island Public House, Olde Western Pizza Co., Front Row Blue Island, and the new B*U*B Café, scheduled to open soon in the historic Jebens Hardware building.
The Blue Island Arts Alliance (BIAA) partners with the Streetz Artz Alliance (SAA) to arrange the event.
BIAA, headed by Joe Leamanczyk, focuses on encouraging and supporting the local arts scene and the City of Blue Island. Mai Fest, named to honor the German roots of Blue Island, is the organization’s signature event.
“Blue Island has an exciting creative community that we want people to experience, and we want to keep building that community. Plus, we want to bring awareness to the great businesses on Old Western Avenue. Blue Island has a lot to offer visitors,” said Leamanczyk.
The SAA is a network of over 300 artists and craftspeople who participate in shows throughout Chicagoland. The group was started by John Streetz, an artist who also loves craft beers. He combines his two passions by staging craft shows in collaboration with craft breweries.
“Art fairs and craft breweries go really well together. People can relax with a good local craft beer in hand while they walk around to visit the vendors,” said Streetz.
Streetz notes that all of the items for sale are hand-crafted goods. Some of the people have formed their own small businesses, real “mom and pop” operations. However, none of the items come from faceless, commercial companies.
“It’s about the handcrafters, people who labor over their work, who love their labor, who are proud to put out things they made themselves. And it’s about supporting local businesses, like the breweries and restaurants,” said Streetz.
The Blue Island Beer Company (BIBC) was one of the first breweries to work with Streetz. The first small-scale show evolved into events like Mai Fest. It was the owner of the BIBC, Alan Cromwell, who connected Leamanczyk and Streetz.
BIBC and its large, open space, called the “WayBack Room,” is the frequent location for craft shows, fests, concerts, fund-raisers, and other events.
Said Cromwell, “It’s been fun to resurrect a street fair down here on Old Western Avenue. Craft breweries often become the cultural epicenters of communities; they allow for sharing a lot of different, eclectic ideas. It’s great to work with like-minded people like our neighbors, the bars and restaurants, and with Joe and John.”
Confirmed artists and vendors include:
333 Creates
Chi-Town Sistahs' Sweet Treats
Dessert flores
Healing Earth Stars
James R Joy Watercolors
Jonathan Grimm Art
Josefina Y Sus Delicias
JPs Que
Kelley.Bakes
KP’s Candy factory
Krick Woodshop
Legacy & Lore Toys
LeonMechelle Artist Studios
Libra Rising By Yoali
Little Love Affairs Boutique (Rites of Wellness LLC dba)
Loi Designs
Marquee & Me Designs
My Crown My Glory
OG Clothing LLC
PaganBones Printing
Passionate Pleasures Chocolates and Infused Treats
Prisys Kreations
Quilting Creep
Jotham and Georgia’s Rabbit Hole of Research
Reisha Rhapsodies
Smelly Melly Soaps and Candles, LLC
Special K's BeerCandles
Tarot by Ptah
The Craftholes
Unique Creations by Rachel
Ursula Naturals
vada winter
VanillaKrush
Very Powerful Dice
Wanna Pickle Gourmet Foods
Witchorama LLC
Worries
XICANTL
“Working with these talented and connected people – the artists and crafters, John Streetz, Alan Cromwell, and the people of Blue Island – has brought Mai Fest along to a successful place much faster than we thought we would get to in only two years. It’s really exciting,” said Leamanczyk.
Mai Fest is free, but a donation of $5 is welcome to support the BIAA.
This being the Midwest, weather is always an unpredictable factor, but only severe weather that could cause public safety concerns would change Mai Fest plans. The vendors set up inside would still go on with the show.
“Now that spring is here, we just want people to come out and have a good time,” said Leamanczyk.
