Traveling Crafts Fair Planning 3-Day Visit

The Harvest Festival, a traveling arts and crafts fair that features the work of 400 artisans, will make camp at the Ventura County Fairgrounds this weekend.

With an estimated 16,000 handmade objects for sale, the festival also features food, demonstrations, entertainment and a food collection drive to help load the shelves of Food Share Inc., a county food bank.

The festival was founded 25 years ago in San Francisco when a group of artisans created an alternative to selling their wares at flea markets and swap meets. The event grew. Now, a jury chooses about 1,500 exhibitors from a field of more than 5,000 applicants.

This year, locally made products include clothing designed by Laura Splawn, Shelley Wain’s jewelry, Frances Flores’ stained glass, Arlene Harris’ quilts and pillows, Charles and Del Hutgren’s toys and puppets, Candace Gabbe’s pottery, Elaine Garcia’s folk art, Sharon Brown’s handmade clothing and Joyce Lomenick’s jewelry.

The Harvest Festival hours are noon to 7 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Admission to the festival is $6.50 for adults, $5.50 for people over 55 and $3.50 for children. Adults who bring a nonperishable item for Food Share get $1 off admission.

For information, call the Ventura County Fairgrounds during business hours at 648-3376.