There are a lot of craft fairs around this fair city, and that's a testament to all of the artsy, creative types who are inspired by our water or Midwestern vibes or whatever. But let's face it: Seeing as how you're not rich, you have a difficult time choosing which festival, each packed with talented artists, to support with your hard-earned dollars. Would the presence and blessings of alpacas at a certain craft fair make your choice any easier? That's what we thought. Then run, don't walk, to the fantastical Strange Folk Festival, which features the bossest of all fuzzy creatures, thanks to BearKamp Farms, along with 150-plus tremendous crafters, who offer everything from funky stuffed animals (courtesy of Paisley Fawn) to snuggly infinity scarves (from Cristin Rae, the aforementioned alpaca farm and others), and from cool kids' costumes (thanks to Handmade Family) to unique home decor items (from Life UnCork'd, Bill's Retro Robots and others). The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (September 27 and 28) at O'Fallon Community Park (401 East Fifth Street, O'Fallon, Illinois), and admission is free. For a full list of artists and more information about the bands and eats that will help fuel your shopping, visit www.strangefolkfestival.com.
Sat., Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., Sept. 28, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., 2014