aspee Arts & Crafts Festival back again!

By ED KDONIAN

With another year comes another Gaspee Days celebration. From the end of May to June 11, when the symbolic burning of the Gaspee takes place, the Pawtuxet area will be host to a variety of celebratory events.

For many, one of the most exciting parts of Gaspee Days is the Arts & Crafts Festival which will take place May 27 – 29, starting at 10 a.m. daily. Each year vendors from all across Rhode Island and surrounding states vie for a chance to show off their wares and set up a booth at one of the biggest craft fairs of the year.

“We have about 25-30 percent new people, and the rest are all returning whether it be from their first year last year or they’ve been coming since 25 years ago,” said Tina Bingham, who has been in charge of the fair for over 20 years.

“Everything you can imagine is there. There will be, I think, 125 vendors set up this year. We do our best not to have more than two or three of any type of booth.”

With such a long list of artisans selling their wares, it is impossible to list them all. We can, however, give you a little taste of some of the variety. Below is just a small sample of the different types of vendors those attending the Arts & Crafts Festival can expect to find and a few words from them.

We be Jammin: “We Be Jammin’ is excited to be back at the Gaspee Days Festival with our full line of specialty jams, salsas, bbq sauces, salad dressings, marinades, glazes, and specialty condiments. Come support the Warwick Police Department K9 unit and pick up a jar of our specially designed flavors for K9 Garry, K9 Haki, and Compassion K9 Charley. All sales of the K9 flavors will be donated to the Warwick Police Department K9 Unit.”

Fenham Publishing: “I will be displaying short story collections written by C. M. Eddy, Jr. a Rhode Island native and short story author. The stories range from mystery, horror, supernatural and suspense. Fenham Publishing is a small press that was established in 2000 by Jim Dyer, grandson of C. M. Eddy, Jr. The press was formed to showcase the works of Providence, Rhode Island native C. M. Eddy, Jr. an author of short stories from the pulp magazine era of the 1920’s, most notably Weird Tales.

Wicked Sensual Candles: Wicked Scentual Candles produces intensely scented candles and gifts. We specialize in gel candles which burn longer, cleaner and brighter than traditional wax candles. We have recently added eco-friendly coconut wax melts, as well as a line of luxurious spa products. Prices range from $6 - $25and there will be special bundle discounts at Gaspee Days.

Mermaids Baubles: Selling handcrafted Sailors Valentines (which date back to the 1800's as a vintage nautical art form), decor and accessories entirely out of natural seashells, pearls and other treasures from the Sea! For well over a decade, her specialty has been transforming the Sailors Valentine style of art into wearable (and durable!) pieces...especially realistic Shellblossoms. You can find her work all year long at two Artists Cooperatives in Rhode Island: Harbor View Artisans, 61 Brown St, Wickford Village RI; and The Hotpoint Emporium, 39 State St, Bristol, RI. www.MermaidsBaubles.com