Delaware's Christmas Craft Shows

Shoppers and crafters look forward to the Christmas crafts season. Craft shows are held all over Delaware, in fire halls, churches, community centers and schools. Two of the largest in Delaware are the Dover Air Base Spouse Craft Show, at the Delaware State Fair Grounds in Harrington, and the Handcraft Unlimited and Country Peddler Craft Show, held in Carpenter's Hall at the University of Delaware, in Newark.

The Dover Air Base Spouse Craft Show has been around for 25 years and is one of the largest single-day Christmas craft shows on the East Coast. The event features 200 vendors selling everything from wood crafts to pottery to stained glass to homemade candy to ladybugs (Delaware's state bug). Find the perfect one-of-a-kind present here.

The show is held the first Saturday in November, with this year's show falling on November 7. Attendance usually is more than 10,000 visitors, so try to arrive early for the best buys.

Along with the handmade items there are many food stands, manned by non profit organizations , offering the hungry shoppers an array of food including, German Bratwurst, Frito pie, subs, hot dogs and hamburgers.

The Dover Officers Spouse Club Craft Show runs from 9a.m. until 4p.m., and admission is $2.00. The Delaware State Fairgrounds are located on US 13 in Harrington, DE.

The second largest Christmas Craft Show in Delaware is the Handcraft Unlimited and Country Peddler Craft Show held the weekend before Thanksgiving at the University of Delaware, in Newark. This is a two day show attracting vendors from around the country to peddle their crafts. The show has been running for eleven years and shoppers line up early on Saturday to find the gift.

The show is both handicap and stroller accessible, and features a Mad Money Drawing held every thirty minutes giving shoppers a chance at winning a Mad Money Certificate worth $20.00 to spend at any of the shows craft booths.

Admission to the University of Delaware Christmas Craft Show is $5.00 per person with children under 12 admitted free. The dates for 2009 are November 21 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. and November 22 from 10a.m. until 4 p.m. The Carpenter Center is located at 631 S. College Ave, Newark, Delaware. Parking is free.