Holiday Fair and Uncommon Crafts
’Tis the season to hit up Harvard Square
This time of year the basement of First Parish Unitarian Church in Cambridge is transformed into the lively Harvard Square Holiday Craft Fair, an opportunity to do last-minute shopping and to support artists.
“When it started in the mid 1980s, there weren’t many crafts fairs around,” says cofounder Leslie Gray. “It was a way for artisans to gain exposure and make a living. A few of the first artists still participate, but new ones come too, making it a fresh experience every year.”
Many artists are local, such as Peter Grams, a stoneware potter from Somerville, whose pottery “feels just right,” says Gray, “not heavy-bottomed or thin-topped.”
Some artists incorporate recycled materials into their crafts. Lennie Kaumzha transforms old tin cans into candle fixtures, and Deva Skydancer makes wind chimes, clocks, and jewelry from vintage cutlery and kitchen accessories.
More than 70 vendors participate in the fair during its 13 days. “Why shop online or at the mall when you can talk directly to the artists about their work?” Gray asks. “The vendors have great energy. And with a 1960s and world music soundtrack, the fair feels like a party where you can buy stuff.”
The Harvard Square Holiday Craft Fair at the First Parish Unitarian Church, 3 Church St., Cambridge, Mass., runs through December 23, from noon to 7:30 p.m. More information, such as a complete list of vendors, is available here.
Robin Berghaus can be reached at berghaus@bu.edu.
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