Strange Folk, Here We Come

The proliferation of DIY craft and culture can be daunting to folks not already involved in the scene, so here's the only tip you'll ever need: When a craft fair has cookies listed under "housewares," you are at the best possible craft fair. Welcome to Strange Folk, population: awesome. Drawing to it the finest knitters, woodworkers, toymakers, cut and pasters, and yes, cookiemakers (the Hot Cookie of Indianapolis), Strange Folk provides two days of indie love in O'Fallon, Illinois' Community Park (401 East Fifth Street, O'Fallon, Illinois; www.strangefolkfestival.com) — oh, calm down, it's closer than you think. The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (September 25 and 26), bands from near and far play both days, Upcycle Exchange will be onsite taking donations of craftable materials (you get an Upcycle Coupon Passport in return, which will be useable at many of the vendors), and admission is free. And don't forget to visit the alpaca petting zoo, where you can get up close and personal with the fiber artist's best friend. Although many vendors take checks (and even credit cards), bring cash because everybody accepts actual money. You don't want to leave empty-handed, and after you see what's on sale, you won't want to leave empty-handed. (Note to Brooke Foster: You may not leave with an alpaca.)
Sat., Sept. 25; Sun., Sept. 26, 2010