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Arts & Entertainment

Shop Local: Several Craft Fairs in Watsonville on Saturday

The first annual Anti-Mall Community Market Craft Fair this Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Springfield Grange is one of several craft fairs happening this weekend.

Rather than go to the mall this weekend, why not spend Saturday perusing local craft fairs and supporting local artists?

The Springfield Grange Hall hopes to give the local economy a boost this holiday season, which is one reason they're hosting their first ever Anti-Mall Community Market this Saturday.

"Ours is unique because it's organized around the principles of an Anti-Mall, it's an alternative space where people come together to exchange not just stuff but ideas," said organizer Dvera Saxton of the Springfield Grange.

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The craft fair is inspired by larger and more permanent "Anti-Mall"s like The Lab in Los Angeles.

The recent strikes at Walmart are another inspiration for the Anti-Mall community market.

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"Walmart has devastated a lot of local economies, and although we're lucky they haven't come to Watsonville we want to make sure we support one another rather than support companies that don't take care of community," said Saxton.

The Craft Fair will feature around 16 vendors from around the Pajaro Valley. Expect to find traditional textiles and artwork, sock crafts, jewelry, and many crafts made by farm workers and Native American Vendors.

Tamales will be sold by Yolanda Ortiz, who dreams of starting a tamale cooperative some day in Watsonville.

The Springfield Grange Community Market is Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of Werner and Elkhorn Roads in Royal Oaks.

Saxton encourages local shoppers to check out some of the other craft fairs this weekend too.

"There are a lot of them and we don't want to compete, we want to encourage people to go to more than one," she said.

Other Craft Fairs near Watsonville this weekend:

Ninth annual Native American Market at the Spreckels Veterans Memorial Building, Fifth and Llano Avenue, Spreckels. Gifts, jewelry, art, bead work, Navaho Tacos and much more! Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Dec. 2 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free admission and Parking.

Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival at the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds will inlcude folk art, antiques, collectibles, gift foods, and delicious refreshments at the food court. Friday, Nov. 30 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 1 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Sunday, Dec 2 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Festival of Lights in Corralitos is on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Corralitos. There will be arts, crafts, and food vendors, as well as a performance by the Corralitos Community Church Christmas Choir.

Know of another craft fair happening in Watsonville this weekend? Please share it in the comments!

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