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Current News
20th Annual Quad City Christmas Arts & Craft Fair and 15% fine arts. This is the largest indoor (60.000 sq.ft.) handcrafted fair in the area.
We had 183 exhibitors in 2008 with an attendance of 10,000 shoppers. We will maintain our policy of handcrafted only (see rule #5 and #11). We will accept registrations until the category and/or fair is full.
There is a
$4 admission and we flood the area with $1.00 off admission coupons in 19 local newspapers covering a 50 mile radius of Rock Island. Because this is such a huge event and a real tradition in the Quad City area, we also receive
coverage from the TV news stations. We also advertise on billboards and road signs.
Each year we arrange to have some our exhibitors featured on the Paula Sand’s show, during the week of Thanksgiving.
This daily TV show is very popular in the area with our targeted audience and this type of coverage is priceless.
We offer the convenience of three different days for check in and set up, (see registration for actual dates and times). Load
in and load out is very easy since the building is ground level with no steps involved. The center has industrial size carts available for use.
We encourage demonstrations. For those of you who can demonstrate, and draw a
crowd, we will allocate additional space at no cost, as long as space is available. Last year we had over 50 exhibitors that demonstrated. Demonstration like this can set our fair apart from the others and increase your sales.
We reserve the parking lot at the center for the public. All exhibitors are required to park in the designated areas only. We provide a shuttle to and from the city lot before and after the fair each day. We do have
space available for all sizes of trailers. We also have on site storage available for excess inventory and/or packing material in the same building. This will allow you to restock whenever you need to and have your
boxes available when needed.
We will be using LaQuinta Inn again this year. The discounted rate is $46.00 plus tax per night for 1-4 people. The more of our exhibitors that use our host motel, the better negotiating power we
have.
We have a contest for the most exhibitors $1.00 off admission coupons that come nt through the ticket window. 2008 First
Place winner is Mary Burlingame for %50.00 adn second place swimmer is Lois Smith for $25. If you would like to help distribute theses coupons, then mark coupons and qty wanted on your registration.
Crafters Corner
Part of the 42nd Fulton County Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive
Crafters Corner is held at the Old School Center. We have indoor restrooms, outside spaces, and 39 indoor spaces. Farmington is one of the largest areas on the Scenic Drive with over 200 vendors within the city limits. We have ample free parking for the public, buses, and exhibitors.
Crafters Corner is one of 26 different official site/areas along the 140 mile route. Approx. 80.000 people from all over the country came to come to enjoy what the Scenic Drive has to offer.
Since we are a sanctioned
site with the Scenic Drive, in addition to your booth fee, all our exhibitors are required to pay Scenic Drive Association fees. For non Fulton County food vendors the fee is $100. After September 1st, 2009, the fee raises to
$150. All other vendor fees are $50 and after September 1, 2009 the fee is $75. The Association spends over $80.000 each year promoting the Scenic Drive. The advertise in dozens of newspapers, radio station and TV
throughout the midwest, including Chicago and St. Louis areas. They also have informational booths as far away as IN, MO, and WI and are listed in the Illinois Tourism Guide.
We offer the choice of one or both weekends. Setup can be left on site during the week. The gym is locked separate from the rest of the building. We offer two different days for setup (see registration
for actual dates and times). Load in and out are very easy, no steps and all on level inside and level grassy ground outside.
We will maintain our standards of handcrafted only (see rule #5 and #11) and will accept
registrations until the category and/or fair is full. food concessions are welcome to participate in this event. A Fulton County Temporary food Permit and proof of product liability insurance is required by all food concession
vendors.
if you register before June 1st, 2009, your name will appear in the Fulton County Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive program Book, which is sold for $1.00 prior to and during the event at local stores and along the
route.
Free camping for exhibitors. All campers must be self contained since the WILL NOT be any sewer, water , or electric hookups available. We can send out a list of motels and camp grounds in the area, but can not offer
discounted rates.
We will have a period costume contest for anyone interested in participating, but it is not required. The winner will receive a coupon for %50.00 off next year’s association fees. 2008 winner is Gene
and Pam Yocom for Crafters Corner site.
We are committed to our policy of handcrafted items only. Our guidelines for handcrafted are:
You must have some type of skill or craft applied to the product that your are selling and have it be a MAJOR part of the product that defines is as unique, this is handcrafted. tying a bow around a wholesale item,
clueing a clasp on, adding a wire hanger, sewing a simple patch on a sweatshirt, simply varnishing a piece of wood, etc. is NOT
a craft. We do not accept buy/sell, imports, heat transfers, screen printing, antiques, kits, collectibles, programmable embroidery machine work, commercial or wholesale items.
If you are not sure about our criteria
concerning handcrafted, please contact our office before you register. Once at the fair, if you are asked to leave because your product does not meet this criteria, there will be NO REFUNDS.
Please feel free to check out the information of our fairs. You can go to Downloads and Event for more detail. If you have any questions, please call the office or send me an e-mail.
Thank You
Chris Beaty
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