Holiday Shoppers Flock to Arts & Crafts Show

Shoppers got an early start on Saturday, Dec. 3, flocking to Leesburg's at on a sunny, crisp morning.  By 10 a.m., parking lots were filling up and shoppers were parking at the lot past the A.V. Symington Aquatic Center.

Event Manager Linda Fountain of the Leesburg Department of Parks and Recreation, estimated that about 650 shoppers had come to the show in the first two hours. Vendors were selling a variety of one-of-a-kind items like candles, stained glass, carved wood, jewelry, food products and table linens.

This is the show’s 21^st year, Fountain said, and “in the good old days” about 5,000 people would attend.

“We’re still in a little bit of a down time [because of the economy],” she said, adding that about 2,600 shoppers attended the show last year.

Shoppers and vendors were enthusiastic about this year’s show. 

“It’s fabulous,” said Colleen Delaney of Ashburn, who made a purchase from the Blue Ridge Wood Crafters booth. “We were just saying it’s one of the best we’ve been to in a long time.”

“It’s a wonderful show – good quality, which is important,” said Marty Cohen of Lovettsville. He and Nina Bell of New Jersey were shopping at Z Pottery, a vendor that came all the way from Cincinnati to participate in the show.

“We have family local, so that makes it easier,” said potter Joshua Hamaker, who said that this is the fourth year he has participated in the show.

According to Fountain, there were about 95 vendors selling arts and crafts at the show. Most were from Virginia or Maryland, but some came a much longer distance. Vendors from farther away included Z Pottery, from Cincinnati, and Blue Ridge Wood Crafters, from Sparta, N.C.

Fountain estimated that about 30 of the 95 vendors were new to the show this year.

“We get a lot of the same vendors,” she said.  “A lot of them have a following and people know to look for them year after year.” 

Among the most popular returnees are The Parsonage, of Lovettsville, which sells soaps; Gypsy Hill, of Vienna, Va., which sells dips; and Chile Man, of Purcellville.

Robert Farr, also known as “Chile Man,” said he had to shut down his hot sauce business a few years ago but was able to get it started again around 2008. He was clearly in his element as shoppers crowded around to taste his products on Saturday.

“I’m a born marketer,” he said.

Leesburg's Holiday Fine Arts and Craft Show will be open until 4:00 p.m. and will re-open on Sunday, Dec. 4, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  There is no admission charge.