A favorite local event is back for the winter season. Now in its third year, the annual Mansfield Community Center Craft Fair offers a chance for community members to sell their one-of-a-kind wares, from jewelry to jams and jellies. The showcase is set for Saturday, Dec. 14, in the gymnasium at the Mansfield Community Center on the corner of South Eagleville Road and Storrs Road.
The Town of Mansfield’s Parks and Recreation department is the official sponsor of the fair, which it describes as a “celebration of creativity and local artisans” on its webpage. It says 30 local vendors will be present at the craft fair, selling a variety of different goods including clothing, toys and specialty foods.
“Attendees will have the chance to browse and purchase a wide variety of high-quality, locally made items,” said Bethany Burns, the recreation coordinator for Mansfield. “Whether you’re shopping for yourself, finding the perfect gift, or supporting small businesses, the craft fair offers something for everyone.”
The craft fair started in 2022 as a companion to the Winter Welcome and Celebrate Mansfield Festival, both events hosted by the Mansfield Downtown Partnership, a town-affiliated nonprofit organization. Many local craft vendors have been featured in the past, with knit goods, pottery and wood turned plateware, flowers, baked goods and treats amongst others.
The Town of Mansfield hopes to continue hosting the fair as an annual tradition, describing the fair as “highly-anticipated” in a press release.
“It’s a fun-filled day, and who knows what hidden treasures await,” said Burns.
The event also coincides with the Community Center’s “Jingle Jog” — an activity happening from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on their athletic track. Jingle bells will be provided, and the public is encouraged to “prance, dance or blitz” down the festively decorated track with the opportunity to win free prizes. In the spirit of the season, hot cocoa and candy canes are stationed at the finish line.
The fair falls on the final weekend of the Fall 2024 semester for University of Connecticut students. The craft fair is open to the public and free to attend, going from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14. For more information about the event, visit the Mansfield Community Center webpage at mansfieldcc.com.