Antioch's Fall Arts and Crafts Faire to be this weekend

This weekend, Antioch's downtown will be home to 125 handcraft artists' booths when the village holds its annual Fall Arts and Crafts Faire.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, the public is invited to downtown Antioch for the free fair, which boasts a wide variety of crafts.

Booths include woods, metals, ceramics, apparel, candles, jewelry, photography, purses, paintings and photography. There also will be a farmer's market.

"This is a slightly smaller show that the one held in the summer, but it is catching up rapidly," said Barbara Porch, executive director of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and Industry. "This is also a much more seasonal craft fair. There will be a lot of holiday-related crafts and cold weather items."

The fair will be held on the Orchard Street Extension and Skidmore Drive. Orchard Street, from Main to Depot streets, will be closed from 5 p.m. today until Sunday evening.

Porch said one of the highlights this year is a new crafter from Lindenhurst, Darlene Haynes, who makes toddler chairs out of 5-gallon buckets.

"It was one of the crafts that really stood out," Porch said adding that all of the things sold during the fair are handcrafted by the person selling the goods.

"This will certainly never be a flea market," Porch said.

Antioch is home to two Arts and Crafts Faires each year.

The villages Chamber of Commerce and Industry host both the summer arts event, normally held on Father's Day weekend, and the fall fair, which is traditionally held the weekend after Labor Day.

The fairs have grown over the last five years and are attracting area crafters and artists from across the country.

Antioch's reputation for a great show with an interesting variety of wares draws approximately 10,000 to 12,000 people browsing through each fair, said Porch.

The fair is open rain or shine.

"Some of our best craft sales have happened during rainy weather," Porch said. "Just put an umbrella in the car."

For more information, call the Antioch Chamber at (847) 395-2233.