Shoppers seek the unique at Festival of Arts in St. Charles
Barbara Garrow seemed to be a step ahead of everyone else Sunday at the Festival of Arts and Crafts in St. Charles.
The Wheaton resident waited empty-handed at the end of a long row of artist booths at the Pheasant Run Mega Center, as her two shopping buddies lagged behind with armloads of treasures.
"I'm all bought out," Garrow explained. "I buy early Christmas presents starting in the summer."
The 200 indoor booths of handcrafted items by exhibitors from seven states was enough to keep the rest of the shoppers shuffling slowly from booth to booth. Holiday décor, oil paintings, water colors, yard art, metal work, mosaic art, purses, home décor and much more gave shoppers reason to take it slow.
Garrow said in past years she has left with gifts for her grandchildren as well as for herself. Last year, she left with a 6-inch tall bamboo plant that is now as tall as she is.