Exeter Craft Festival grows to three days!

For the first time in its 41-year history, this year’s prestigious Exeter Craft Festival is being extended to take place over three days on Friday 15 July, Saturday 16 July and Sunday 17 July.

The event, which brings together the wonderful work of some of the most talented craftspeople and artists based in the South West will, once again, be held on Exeter’s beautiful Cathedral Green.

‘The decision to extend the Festival to three days has been driven largely by public demand, as a number of the people who in the past have visited on the Saturday have automatically assumed that the event would continue through Sunday,’ said Event Co-ordinator, David Adams, ‘and many visitors have been disappointed that they couldn’t bring their friends and relatives the next day, perhaps to help them decide on a purchase, to see what takes their fancy or provide gift ideas.’

As always the ethos of the 2016 Festival is to feature handmade and original work of high quality, and over 100 exhibitors have been selected to maintain that standard across a wide range of arts and crafts.

There are textiles, from cosy hand-knitted jumpers to silk bow ties, wonderful hats, knitted chickens and the utterly adorable juggling hens and bear caves (you will have to visit!); ceramics, from colourful functional items to the purely decorative; and woodwork, from balancing dragonflies and fan birds to beautiful bowls and stunning benches for the garden.

Then there are the jewellery-makers, some working in precious metals and semi-precious stones, while others use handmade glass beads and polymer clay, and glassmaking is represented by exhibitors producing such things as fused glass pictures and dishes, gorgeous lampwork beads, and stained glass panels for the garden.

Artists are exhibiting beautiful seascapes and landscapes, flower and animal paintings, etchings, and greeting cards, and there are fantastic examples of photography.

There is much more, but how do you categorise the craftspeople who make cameras from recycled paper and card, bonsai trees sculpted from wire, and whimsical fairy houses and doors?

There really is something for everyone, and all the exhibitors are passionate about what they do and love to talk about it. There will also be demonstrations by a blacksmith and a woodworker.

Free live music and family-friendly entertainment is scheduled throughout the three days, making the Exeter Craft Festival a must visit event for both residents and visitors to the South West in July.

For more information, see the website: www.exetercraftfestival.co.uk