ROCHESTER, NY, November 3, 2022–The RMSC Council celebrates the return of its annual event with the 50th annual Holiday Bazaar Arts & Crafts Sale. The RMSC Council is a volunteer service organization that supports all three locations of the RMSC (The Museum & Science Center, the Strasenburgh Planetarium, and the Cumming Nature Center) through annual fundraising events just like this one. The sale, filled with works by more than 200 fine artists and craftspeople, will take place throughout four floors of the RMSC and Eisenhart Auditorium on:
- Friday, Nov. 18: 5-9pm
- Saturday, Nov. 19: 9:30am-5pm
- Sunday, Nov. 20: 11am-4pm
Over 175 carefully selected juried exhibitors will showcase creative, unique, hand-made items including: ceramics, fiber arts, glass, jewelry, mixed media, paintings, photography, prints, sculpture, woodwork, and more. Exhibitors travel from across New York State, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and as far away as North Carolina to participate.
Jorien Brock, enamel artist and owner of Woman Folk, describes her favorite part of participating in the Holiday Bazaar in a unique location: “During my first couple of years in the festival, my booth was in the reptile room. It was so fun to be in the room with lizards and snakes and to be inspired by their colors and patterns. I would be packing up in the evening and the staff would come in and feed the snakes.”
Visitors can expect to find locally made gifts for the holidays while supporting both small businesses and their favorite non-profit. In addition to the sale, food and beverages will be available for purchase in the Cunningham House Studio, an area not usually open to the general public.
One of the longest running arts and crafts festivals in the Rochester region, the annual RMSC Women’s Council Holiday Bazaar was founded over 50 years ago as a modest Stocking Stuffer Sale. Today, the Holiday Bazaar attracts more than 5,000 shoppers, and is the RMSC Council’s most successful fund-raising event.
Local Rochester countryware and floral artist Pat Schmitt has been participating in the Holiday Bazaar for 16 years. She shared how the event has impacted her own personal community: “Every year I have to try to bring something new in, because I have so many repeat customers who come.. I enjoy making my product. I’ve made a lot of long time friends from my customers, and a lot of people who work at the [Holiday] Bazaar.”
Admission to the Holiday Bazaar is $5 per person and can be purchased online or at the door. Weekend passes will be available for $8 at the door. Some Museum & Science Center exhibits may be unavailable during the sale.
For more information about the Holiday Bazaar and to buy tickets, visit rmsc.org/holidaybazaar
