Category: ACT

Australia is a hub for craft markets and fairs, offering a diverse range of handcrafted goods from local artisans. In fact, as of this post’s publication, there may be hundreds of minor and major craft fairs coming soon to a city or town near you. It goes to show that crafting is a big deal here, a key part of Australia’s rich pre-colonial history.

The handmade design market is a great place to support local artisans and find unique, one-of-a-kind items. However, many of these craft fairs are either held on the same day or week or take place an entire continent apart from each other. Unless someone has perfected cloning technology or knows a secret ninjutsu art, it’s impossible to be at every ongoing craft fair at once.

No need to worry about missing, though; as we said earlier, craft fairs are a dime a dozen. If one fair ends, the next one won’t be far off, giving you just enough time to plan accordingly. To help you with that, here are some of the best craft fairs in Australia that you may want to consider on your craft fair adventure.

CraftAlive

Since its first craft fair over 30 years ago, CraftAlive has grown into the largest craft fair series in Australia. The fair showcases a wide range of craft markets across Australia, featuring local artisans and their handmade creations, as well as some of the most prominent craft teachers and experts at the national level.

Check out the upcoming craft fairs under this series.

Tickets for these craft events can be bought at their respective event pages. Some of these can provide coach transport from specified pick-up points to the event venue and back for an extra fee.

Craft & Quilt Fair

Promoted as “Australia’s favourite craft event,” the Craft & Quilt Fair is another well-known craft fair primarily held in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. The Craft & Quilt Fair is a must-visit for those interested in quilts and other handmade homewares.

Among its highlight events is the display of finalist entries in the yearly Australasian Quilt Convention (AQC) Challenge, a quilt-making competition that pushes quilt makers’ skills to their limits. The competition involves creating a quilt 90 cm long and wide according to the theme, which changes every year. Cash prizes await the top three quilts.

The craft and quilt fair showcases a stunning array of handmade treasures. But if you aren’t visiting for the AQC Challenge, there are also hundreds of other designs on display at this quilt fair. It attracts prominent quilt makers far and wide, even internationally recognised talents such as Danny Amazonas whose animal-themed quilt last year raised awareness of endangered species.

The dates and venues for the 2025 Craft & Quilt Fair are as follows:

• Sydney – 25-28 June, ICC Sydney at Darling Harbour
• Melbourne – 3-6 September, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Wharf
• Brisbane – 15-18 October, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre at South Bank

Submissions for the 2024 AQC Challenge are closed as of this writing. Tune in for the dates of this year’s challenge.

Tasmanian Craft Fair

If you’re looking for an expansive display of crafts, look no further than the Tasmanian Craft Fair. It prides itself on not only having the largest collection of all types of crafts in Australia on display but also in the entire Southern Hemisphere.

The event was formerly known as the Tasmanian Cottage Industry Exhibition and Craft Fair from its first handmade market event in 1981 to its renaming to the Tasmanian Craft Fair in 1996. Though growing in attendance year after year, this fair is still held in Deloraine, a town of a little over 3,000 people. This is owing to the town’s history of welcoming an influx of craftspeople in the 1970s that helped it grow.

Of the 200-plus exhibitors who attend the Tasmanian Craft Fair, most hail from Tasmania, with the rest handpicked from all over the mainland. Some are craft suppliers, furniture makers, glassblowers and heritage restorers, and the range of exhibitors keeps expanding annually. Part of the proceeds from the Tasmanian Craft Fair go to funding local, national, and international projects. Local crafters gather at the handmade design market to sell their handmade goods to the community.

This year’s Tasmanian Craft Fair will be held in seven venues across Deloraine from 31 October to 2 November. For three days, the town becomes one big exhibit for all sorts of crafts and craft events.

Sydney Craft Week

When three days might not be enough to get your craft-making fix, some craft events can last well over a week. One example is Sydney Craft Week, with this year’s fair running from 10-19 October and being held all across the city.

Sydney Craft Week celebrates the beauty of handmade crafts and features a variety of visual arts. This craft fair is unique in that it only exhibits handcrafted crafts. It believes in the beauty and joy that creating things by hand brings, as well as the sense of togetherness it fosters. Regardless of a person’s interest in craft making, the fair is a great opportunity to explore its wonders through insights from renowned craft artists.

Sydney Craft Week is among the relatively new craft events, having only been held for less than a decade. Last year’s fair coincided with the 60th founding anniversary of the Australian Design Centre, which spearheaded the event.

Amid industrialisation and, later, digitisation of modern society, good old craft-making not only managed to survive but also thrive. While a minor contributor to Australia’s economy, the fact that it generates billions is more than enough proof that craft-making remains alive and kicking – as it should be for a country with a long history of such.

We can point to several reasons why this is the case, but they’re a topic for another time. That said, we can humour you with one: finishing a craft project gives people a sense of accomplishment. The jewellery above would have taken hours, if not days, to finish, but seeing your work turn out exactly like you wanted is nothing short of fulfilling.

Nevertheless, just because craft-making is still around today doesn’t mean it’s immune to change. Adopting machinery is one example, though some artists still make crafts by hand. And with a few months left before the end of 2024, we figured that it’s as good of a time as any to learn the current craft trends that’ll influence the industry in 2025.

Virtual Craft Shows

The COVID-19 pandemic was an unprecedented time in modern history, and craft-making wasn’t spared from its effects. Lockdowns forced craft fairs and other related events to be put on hold, if not postponed indefinitely.

Yet, craft-making stayed strong, as enthusiasts turned to knitting and needlework, among others, to kill the boredom. In social media, the tag #quarantinecrafts trended with people showing the crafts they made during quarantine. It also kept them busy, which contributed to enduring the effects of being confined at home for months on their mental well-being.

Craft fair organisers later found an opportunity: instead of bringing people to the fair, why not bring the fair to them? This gave rise to online or virtual craft fairs, though they initially fell short in attendance compared to physical ones. It wasn’t until CraftAlive launched its Great International Craft Show (GICS) in 2020 that this approach became viable.

Despite the lockdowns all behind us, GICS and other online craft fairs continue to be held alongside their brick-and-mortar counterparts. They’re great alternatives for enthusiasts who can’t attend a physical craft fair, whether due to health issues or the venue being too far. They can shop for materials and learn from skilled artists from the comforts of home. The DIY movement has fueled the popularity of craft-making as people continue to look for craft ideas and create unique pieces.

Business Opportunities

For the past few decades, craft-making has struggled with getting artists to commit to the art full-time due to its low income. The majority of craft artists only make four figures per year selling their work, which – as we mentioned with the jewellery example – might have taken them days or weeks to produce.

It seemed like craft-making would remain a hobby or, at most, a sideline career. However, thanks to a Taylor Swift tour last February, that picture changed.

Whether or not you’re a Swiftie, you probably have read or heard somewhere that Taylor Swift infuses the local economy wherever she goes. In the run-up to the Australian leg of The Eras Tour, craft businesses reported spikes in sales of friendship bracelets. This not only affects those who produce them but also those who supply the materials and craft kits for DIY crafts.

Some businesses also reported getting orders for bracelets for other concerts and tours moving forward. And with no shortage of such events in 2025, craft makers may just have stumbled upon a golden business opportunity. Of course, it’ll take tons of hard work on your part (and probably a bit of luck) to make the most out of this chance.

The craft industry is all about creating unique and one-of-a-kind, handcrafted pieces. Don’t be afraid to experiment with materials like leather, ceramics, crochet yarn, wood, textiles, and more. Whether you’re into creating customized items like artisan soap or candles, upcycled paper crafts or vintage accessories, needle felting and knitting tote bags, or woodworking home decor – even a little bit of creativity can go a long way.

But it’s not just about crafting unique wall art, creating rustic pottery home decor or planters, or producing the best boho tote bags. Understanding your clients and potential customers is essential for business success in the craft industry. It’s important to consider the interests, preferences, and budget of your customer base and prospective clients.

Increasing Eco-Awareness

Craft fairs and other craft events have been making environmental awareness a key tenet, from showcasing crafts made with sustainable practices to encouraging visitors to shop with eco-bags. Recycled and eco-friendly materials have grown increasingly popular in the craft industry, as people seek to reduce their environmental impact.

Craft-making has always been rooted in making do with what you have. Early civilisations lived off the land to create the crafts and tools they needed to perform their daily routines, among other things. They also made some crafts to trade for essential goods, but they also dared not to excessively forage for crafting materials, lest they anger their deities or spirits.

As a result, even with the widespread use of machines in some craft-making disciplines, some artists still prefer doing their craft projects by hand. Apart from the sense of fulfilment and wealth of craft ideas it brings, manual craft projects are normally limited to hand tools like scissors, cutting blades and paintbrushes. This keeps their carbon footprint to a minimum.

Additionally, handmade crafts have several platforms where they can be showcased. One example is Sydney Craft Week, which promotes itself as the only craft fair in the city that’s dedicated to exhibiting handmade crafts. It has only been around for eight years, meaning it has all the time in the world to grow its advocacy.

The Future is Bright

The craft industry is constantly evolving, with new craft ideas emerging and old ones finding new popularity. Craft-making has a bright future ahead of it, not just in 2025. Between a steady increase in craft fair attendance – physical or virtual – and growing environmental awareness, we can say with confidence that it’s in a better position than ever to inspire more people to get into the art, whether as a pastime or a profession.

Australia has a long, rich history of crafts, dating back to way before European settlers set foot here. It’s one of many pre-colonial traditions that not only survived the lasting effects of the Industrial Revolution but also continued to thrive amid mass-produced goods in the market. For artisans, it’s more than just making a living – it’s about leaving an impression.

There’s much fanfare when it comes to crafts, a point exemplified by local craft fairs and the droves of artisans and patrons they attract. As society leans more toward technology, now is a good time to talk about these events and why they managed to survive this long.

What is a Craft Fair?

A craft fair needs no lengthy introduction. Similar to other fairs, it’s a limited-time special event for showcasing a range of crafts, from fabrics to papercrafts, and the necessary crafting supplies to perform them. Craft-making doesn’t imply that no form of equipment or machinery is used, but rather, the crafts aren’t mass-produced for the sake of meeting consumerism levels of demand.

The craft industry is relatively small in terms of contribution to Australia’s gross domestic product (GDP). According to The Value of Craft Skills to the Future of Making in Australia, jointly published by the Australia Research Council and the University of South Australia, the industry added AUD$19.2 billion to the country’s AUD$2.35 trillion GDP in 2021.

However, the report also stressed the importance of craft-making skills in sustaining and developing the country’s production industries. As per the insight of one study participant (whose identity was kept hidden), without such skills, “…there’ll be a certain point where all we can do is throw it away.”

In a way, a craft fair is also designed to raise awareness about how relevant and important craft-making still is. It’s a display of skill in making something wonderful and longer-lasting with far less waste of precious resources.

Speaking of skill, this event also serves as a platform for artisans to hold their craft-making classes. Regardless of how easy scrapbooking or weaving may seem, they can help teach people how to do crafts right and perhaps inspire them to pursue craft-making.

Where Do I Find a Craft Fair?

Craft fairs often occur at the local level, so it won’t be hard to stumble upon one being held in or close to your place. However, thanks to the Internet, finding one has never been much easier, with several craft fairs being held completely online.

Many of these fairs are part of an event series, such as CraftAlive. You can visit their official website to learn about their upcoming fairs and even purchase tickets and sign up for craft-making classes. Other important details on display include the list of attending exhibitors and a map of the venue and the surrounding area.

Buying tickets and booking classes at the fair’s website saves guests the trouble of on-site queueing. Attendance at a local craft fair can reach thousands in a single day, so getting a spot at the fair online lets you skip the long lines.

What Can I Expect at a Craft Fair?

Whether you’re commuting or driving to a craft fair, you’d want to arrive early to secure a parking spot (if driving) and roam the stalls with ease before peak hours. This is important for fairs held in major cities like Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth, where traffic can be a pain.

Early birds can also be guaranteed stocks of the unique crafts and gifts they’re eyeing, as not all exhibitors replenish their on-site inventories within the day. In fact, for some exhibitors, their stock is all they can provide for the duration of the fair. Mass-producing goods defeats the purpose of craft-making and risks incurring major losses if vendors, exhibitors and local artists can’t sell everything.

The reputation of craft fair exhibitors varies, but most are already well-known among their respective crafts (no pun intended) and have attended similar fairs before. This is because showing one’s goods at a craft fair requires ample preparation and logistics, and some first-time exhibitors tend to prefer gaining experience by attending much smaller craft shows and events.

Craft-making is never an easy profession, but that doesn’t stop artisans from toiling for hours to produce something wonderful by hand.

If you think you’ll be bringing home a lot, consider bringing reusable bags instead of single-use plastic ones. As mentioned earlier, craft-making creates beautiful and useful goods for fewer resources. Nothing highlights the eco-friendliness of a craft fair than its visitors being committed to such an advocacy.

What Craft Genres Does a Craft Fair Feature?

A craft fair showcases a vast range of craft genres, some of which include:

These genres and more can be found in both the exhibits and fun crafting classes, depending on the attending local artists, exhibitors and professionals. That’s why it’s a good idea to find out more about a craft fair and its exhibitors before buying tickets. If a brand or crafting class strikes your fancy, it’s worth checking out at the fair.

What If I Miss the Craft Fair?

Don’t fret over missing out on a craft fair, as these events are unlikely to go away anytime soon. The next one won’t be that far off, whether at the community or city level, giving you ample time to prepare for it.

If anything, craft-making in the modern age has an opportunity to be in a better position to promote domestic production capability. Over the years, some manufacturers that once mass-produced goods have transitioned or expressed intent to transition to a craft-based approach. It’s also spurred interest among the current generation.

While progress on these fronts remains slow, it’s nonetheless occurring steadily. Attending a local craft fair may provide the means and, more importantly, the inspiration people need to keep this age-old practice alive.

Craft hobbyists and professionals alike can find everything they want at a local craft fair, from an assortment of crafts and crafting supplies to tips and insights from like-minded experts. While a relatively small industry, crafts maintain a sizeable interest and following due in no small part to the unique showcases such an event features.

In fact, craft fairs are so popular that a dozen or so of these happen all across Australia in a single week. Unfortunately, no matter how strong their love for craft-making is, aficionados can’t be everywhere at once. It’s nothing to cry about, though, as the next one isn’t too far off – and given its popularity, it isn’t about to disappear for the foreseeable future.

That said, you’d want to attend a local craft fair that resonates with the craft-making genre that strikes your fancy. Below are some helpful tips for finding one within reach and online and non-online resources that can help out.

The Internet is Your Friend

One can only imagine how people looked for fairs centuries before the advent of the Web. They probably had to rely on word of mouth or come across the fair by sheer coincidence. Now, in this digital age, all the information you need about an upcoming or ongoing fair is but a quick search away.

Primary sources are your best bet for finding craft fairs in your locality, especially if they’re part of a craft fair series. The fair’s official website will usually have details such as the list of exhibitors, a map of the venue and directions for visitors who are driving or taking public transportation to the venue.

Some of these sites take convenience a step further by allowing visitors to purchase their tickets or reserve slots for crafting classes. While fairs often allow buying tickets on-site, the online option ensures visitors early entry into the event.

Secondary sources include event listing sites and social media pages, but there’s the risk of being fed inaccurate information. If these sources are all you have to work on regarding certain craft fairs, make an effort to verify their credibility. For example, social media sites like Facebook tack signs that prove a page’s authenticity (i.e., Verified logo).

Local news sites are also great sources of craft fair information, seeing that fair organisers need to spread the word about their craft fair quickly. The risk of inaccuracy is low because these sites work on press releases straight from the organisers, and it’s a reporter’s duty to deliver accurate news at all times.

Search Based on Genre

Craft fairs showcase a wealth of craft genres, though the selection depends on the exhibits and classes. Consider shortlisting upcoming events based on the genre you’re interested in, ranging from scrapbooking to machine embroidery. You don’t have to be limited to a single genre.

Aside from general craft fairs, there are also niche ones worth considering. These include but aren’t limited to embroidery, papercraft, quilting, felting and scrapbooking. A closer look at the exhibitor list and available craft classes, if provided, can give you a clear picture of what the craft fair is all about. After that, check the schedule to see if you can make it.

If choosing genres is proving too hard, focus on finding general local craft shows and fairs in the meantime. Their extensive selection, even if not encompassing every genre, will ensure you’ll at least be interested in a genre that you never realised is fascinating.

Examine the Exhibitors and Classes

A craft fair is only as successful as the professionals attending it to showcase their craft and share their knowledge with the world. Naturally, long-standing and well-known craft fairs like CraftAlive invite major names in the craft-making scene, as well as presenting local retailers and groups. These events are usually held at the city level across Australia including major regional areas and capital cities.

Meanwhile, community and shire-level craft fairs are stepping stones for up-and-coming local artisans and craft professionals. They’re much smaller in terms of the number of exhibits and visitors, but it doesn’t make them any less worth your attention. After all, inspiration sometimes comes from the least conspicuous places.

If the event provides a list of exhibitors and craft classes, take time to review it and learn more about who’s in it. Again, the Internet is your friend, so search for the names on the Web and visit their respective websites or pages.

Consider Online Craft Fairs

Not all craft enthusiasts live close enough to an upcoming or ongoing craft fair, and not all places even hold one. Flying or a really long drive to a craft fair is an option, but not all can afford to do so. If only the fair can come to these people.

Thanks to technology, such an event is made possible with the online craft fair. Held on its own interactive platform, this fair enables people from all over Australia to participate as long as they have a stable Internet connection. It features everything a brick-and-mortar craft fair has but can be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s home.

Resources for Finding Craft Fairs

Here’s a complete list of resources to go through whenever you need to look for a craft fair near you. Take note of using sound judgment when perusing their contents to steer clear of questionable information.

• Craft fair official websites (e.g., CraftAlive)
• Craft fair official social media pages
• Event listing websites (e.g., 10Times)
• Local news sites or blogs
• Local government websites and social media
• Online craft-making and craft enthusiast groups
• Forums and discussion boards (e.g., Reddit)
• Craft fair search results (use the right keywords like “craft fair near me”)
• Bulletin boards in churches or community centres
• Neighbours, close friends and fellow craft enthusiasts
• Local craft store owners

You can find most craft fair information on the Internet, but asking around the community can help you find small fairs that don’t get as much exposure. As for online craft fairs, it’s advisable to stick to official sources to be sure you’re heading to the correct platform and not somewhere dubious.