The Midland Palette Club’s annual Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival will be held Saturday, Nov. 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free-admission event will feature indoor and outdoor vendors, unique handmade goods, and family-friendly activities, all designed to support local artisans.
Dee Kemp, a club organizer, explained the festival’s origins. “The Holiday Arts & Crafts Festival was inspired when we saw a need for artisans and craftspeople to show and sell their wares,” she said. “We wanted to encourage small businesses to flourish. We wanted them to come experience what it’s like to set up, sell, and handle different aspects of the business. We want the entrepreneurial spirit that is part of Midland to be showcased by providing an event for them.”
The festival began as quarterly trunk shows, where artists would sell their work from the trunks of their cars. “We saw artists and artisans who did great work but had not tried to sell their items before. It was an opportunity for them to gain confidence that their product is something desirable to others,” Kemp said. The event has since expanded, offering vendors 10-by-10-foot spaces, allowing canopies, and drawing larger crowds each year.
This year, 30 artisans will sell handcrafted items including hand-painted wreaths, Santas, journals, jewelry, and hand-stitched cards. “For many of these artists, it’s their first time at this holiday event,” Kemp said. Each vendor is selected for the originality and quality of their work, ensuring a unique selection of items for festival-goers.
Children will find a number of activities to spark their creativity, including pumpkin painting, bracelet-making, and chalk art.
The festival is a chance to shop, support local talent, and connect with the Midland arts community. “Visitors will not only be able to shop; they will become aware of specific artists and artisans, how they can participate, and certainly appreciate the work and artistry that goes into making the items,” Kemp said.
The Palette Club invites all to support the Midland arts community by attending the festival, engaging with the artists, and exploring ways to get involved with the club’s mission to promote public awareness, appreciation, and access to the arts.