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 525 Orange Center Rd. in Orange. The all-outdoor event is rain or shine and free and open to the public.
Visitors will find a mix of business, craft and artisan vendors selling their homemade specialty products and services, product demonstrations, raffles, food trucks, free activities and the sounds of the Sabb’s Brothers, who will be performing from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. under the gazebo.
“There is a nice mix of vendors such as artisan foods, crafts, clothing, beauty products, home improvement and maintenance, legal, insurance, health care, senior care, insurance, finance, realty and more,” said Annemarie Sliby, executive director of the Orange Economic Development Corporation, which is hosting the fair. “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.”
This year will for the first time feature 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; there is space still available. Industries highlighted include health care, hospitality, information technology, professional services, manufacturing. The job fair is being promoted through Workforce Alliance and the American Job Center.
Additional free activities include: blood pressure checks provided by the Orange Visiting Nurse Association; children’s temporary tattoos provided by Milestones Behavioral Services; and a children’s coloring event provided by Bright Horizons. Visitors who stop by the welcome table will receive a free event bag and a program listing vendors and activities.
A complete list of vendors and activities is available at OrangeEDC.com/events_activities or by calling the OEDC office at 203-891-1045.