The third annual Orange Artisan Fest & Vendor Fair is scheduled for Thursday, June 22 from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Orange Fairgrounds at High Plains Community Center, located at 525 Orange Center Rd. The all-outdoor event is rain or shine and free and open to the public.
“The event is a nice kick-off to the summer, and I would like to welcome the public and business population to stop by and shop, network, and enjoy the day,” said Annemarie Sliby, executive director of the Orange Economic Development Commission.
For the first time, the event will include a job fair, which will be contained under the pavilion from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Visitors looking for employment are encouraged to attend. Recruiters and employers wanting to reach the regional skilled workforce should register for a table. Industries highlighted are health care, hospitality, information technology, professional services, manufacturing and more. The job fair is being promoted through Workforce Alliance and the American Job Center.
Visitors will also encounter a mix of artisans selling homemade specialty products, business vendors selling their products and services, product demonstrations, raffles, food trucks, activities, and the sounds of the Sabb’s Brothers, who will be performing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. under the gazebo.
Vendor space in all categories is still available. Vendor space is limited and Sliby said they expect to be sold out by the end of April. Anyone interested in becoming a vendor can register online via the OEDC website at OrangeEDC.com/events_activities or call the OEDC office at 203-891-1045 for an application. All vendors will have their marketing materials included in event welcome bags, their business name listed in the Artisan Fest ad in OrangeLife Magazine if they register by April 10 and their contact information listed in the event program, which is given to all visitors and vendors.
Businesses can still have a presence if they are unable to participate. For $75, their marketing materials will be included in the event welcome bags. They can also place an ad in the event program; sizes and prices vary.