Great Escape: Sugarloaf Crafts Festival

It's time once again for the fabled Sugarloaf Crafts Festival, returning to the Maryland State Fairgrounds in Timonium Friday, April 29, through Sunday, May 1. With Mother's Day just a week away from the closing date of this spring's show, it may be the best location for one-stop, nearly last minute shopping for the moms in your life.

The problem is, you may bump into your mother while you are there: The moms you are shopping for are also likely to be going to the giant festival featuring contemporary crafts and fine art. The twice-yearly Sugarloaf festival always draws thousands of discriminating shoppers from across the region.

The Sugarloaf organizers write on their website that they are more interested in choosing exhibitors whose work reflects high quality craftsmanship than they are in simply renting out the 250 to 300 booths that fill each of the year's 13 shows in major metropolitan areas like Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Hartford, and central New Jersey. It sounds like the formula is working for them: Nearly 350,000 people buy more than $20 million in original arts and crafts directly from Sugarloaf artists each year.

This weekend's show at the state fairgrounds will feature the pottery, sculpture, glass, jewelry, fashion, furniture and home accessories that longtime Sugarloaf shoppers have come to expect. "New and emerging artists" will also be on hand, showing us what's new in the worlds of handmade fashion and accessories, statement jewelry and fine art. With so many artisans in town, you're sure to find something unique for your mother, aunt or grandma.

The event will also give guests a chance to see just how some of the artists do what they do, up close and in person with daily craft demonstrations. Among those providing a how-to will be Nick Vincent, a blacksmith in Westminster, Md., whose shop is called Nathan's Forge Ltd. Vincent will be demonstrating his 29 years of blacksmithing experience, hammering red hot iron into furniture and sculptures.

A long list of specialty foods will be sold at Sugarloaf, which will also keep things lively with musical performances throughout the weekend as well as a costume storytelling theater event for children.

Tickets cost $9 at the door, with no fee for children younger than 12. A $2 discount is available with online purchase. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30; and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 1. The Maryland State Fairgrounds are located at 2200 York Road.