By Charles Layton
Saturday marked the 30th year for Ocean Grove’s “Giant Craft Show” — and giant is no exaggeration.
Some of the vendors (“crafters,” as they call themselves) told me this was the biggest show they attend, and many of them are out at these shows all season, all up and down the East Coast. The Camp Meeting Association, which sponsors the event, says the number of participants has grown by about 20 per year, and that they had a record high total of 270 crafters last year.
Some sell their wares as a full-time job; others do it part-time, as a weekend thing, and hold down other jobs during the rest of the week.
The Camp Meeting does not allow manufactured items to be sold at this event. Anyone caught doing so, they say, will be banned from participating in future craft shows.
The crafters seemed in a good mood this year. For one thing, they were pleased that the weather turned out so pleasant.
As usual, there was hardly a parking space to be had in all of Ocean Grove on this day. That’s the price we pay.
Here is a Blogfinger video of the event:
I purchased items from 2 different vendors & had an excellent time with both. Made some “special” orders. They both promised my items would be made & shipped within the next week or so. It’s great to be able to find quality, customer service & fun…….all at the same time!
We loved the show this year!! Really great quality and unique crafters and the day was perfect. Bought from 4 vendors and 2 Main Avenue shops. Ocean Grove has a bit of this “new yawkers” money this weekend! Kudos to all who organized…