Riverside Arts Center is hosting its first Holiday Art Fair on Saturday, Nov. 18 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 19 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Riverside Arts Center is located at 76 N Huron St. in Ypsilanti. The fair is a fine arts hub with over 70 vendors that create handmade art, provide vintage goods, and self-care products. Attendees can get an early start to their holiday shopping or stock up on birthday gifts.
With plenty of self-care products being sold, Riverside Arts Center encourages guests to treat themselves. In addition, there will be a bar provided by 734 Brewing for a drink while customers shop.
"We will have three different spaces with 74 different vendors split up into three sections,” Liz Warren, executive director of Riverside Arts Center, said. "We’ll have a dance studio, an off-center space, and a gallery.”
Although there are only 74 vendors, the Riverside Arts Center received over 130 applicants, something they were grateful for. Each vendor brings to the art center something different.
"They make a variety of things from hand-drawn illustrations to 3D art, jewelry, and self-care items like lotions and candles and soaps,” Warren said.
Attendees can look forward to the Holiday Art Fair not just this year, but in the future as well. The art center looks to hold the event annually and for years to come.
A $1 entry fee is suggested, but not required, in order to support more events like the Holiday Art Fair in the future.
Pricing for the art will depend on the vendor. Each vendor pays a table fee, but all proceeds from their work will directly go to them. Art can be priced from $1 to $1,000 with most pieces ranging from $5 to $50.
The Riverside Arts Center offers and promotes arts and cultural programs through arts education, performing arts, and visual and fine arts activities that serve and engage the community.
"A lot of the vendors have holiday items, but there are year-round items you can get too,” Warren said. "There will also be someone doing face paintings. But the main takeaway for this event is supporting these artists and this is showing them direct support.”
The Riverside Arts Center is looking for volunteers for their Holiday Arts Fair. Anyone interested can contact info@riversidearts.org for more information. For additional information on the Holiday Art Fair and a look at their vendor list, visit their website.
