**This is a sponsored post.**
For over seven years, Crafted Indie Arts & Craft Market has brought together a roster of highly skilled and infinitely creative artisans. Crafted’s reputation for having the best selection of can’t-find-anywhere-else goods has been earned through hard work and consistent logistics. Festivals come and go around here. Sticking it out for seven years and surviving the pandemic is a testimony to their loyal following.
Michelle Odom is at the helm of this enduring venture. This one-woman wrecking crew has personally nurtured a community of crafty artisans in the region. Not only is she doing the complex logistics of pulling off a festival that attracts thousands, but she’s also running her own jewelry brand, building an online community of artisans, and loving every second of being a grandmother.
As small artisans who relied on events like Crafted struggled this past year, Michelle stepped up to the plate to bring a monthly mini-Crafted market to fruition. These mini-markets have kept crowd sizes down while still getting an important channel for sales to local crafters. However, organizing an additional years-worth of markets – no matter how small- in addition to an annual festival market has been – in Michelle’s words – “exhausting.”
While the mini-markets have been a welcome return, plenty of folks are eager for the Crafted’s headline event to return. The Fall Crafted Indie Arts and Craft Market is going to look a bit different in 2021. The market has a new host this year, Reaver Beach NFK on Colley Ave. Reaver Beach is so stoked on hosting at their new Norfolk location that they’ve even brewed up an exclusive beer for Crafted. The Where Do We Go When We Pie – Pumpkin Ale will be available for the first time during the market.
Another big difference in the 2021 return of Crafted’s Fall Market is new and improved parking options. Crafted and Reaver Beach have partnered to provide a shuttle service to and from a dedicated parking garage on 43rd street. From 11 am to 7 pm, attendees will be able to get chauffeured from the market to their car. Of course, biking and walking are still always welcomed and encouraged. Still, Crafted attracts thousands of attendees from across the region. This small change in logistics is poised to make the whole day smoother for everyone.
Reaver’s extensively remodeled historic post office building will be bursting at the seams inside and outside with over 60 artisan vendors. Plenty of fan favorites, like the Hemp Barkery, For All Handkind, and I Wear Blue Tights, will return alongside several new additions to the Crafted lineup. Daily Magic and Divine Trinity Spa are two of the standup new vendors. Of course, one of the most popular booths of the day is sure to be Michelle’s own Fringe + Fire, featuring a line of clay accessories fit for everyone from proper to punk.
While you meet your neighborhood crafters and shop small till you drop, there will be plenty of food and entertainment on deck. Shoppers will have their eardrums graced by the musical talents of Dan Pellegrino and Fox and the Bear. Both artists lean folksy and acoustic, which will pair perfectly alongside the cool October weather and changing leaves. Appetites will be satisfied with double food trucks. Hangry’s is known for delights like a Shrimp Grilled Cheese and the Pressed Cuban. Umami Dogs will be bringing their mind-bending flavors of loaded hotdogs. Some of their past creations include the Curry Chilli Dog and the Korean BBQ dog, which have taken an American staple to uncharted territory.
Look, I don’t know what your schedule looks like this weekend, but I think it’s safe to say that Crafted should be pretty high on the itinerary. This market has been a community staple since 2014, and there’s plenty of reasons why.
Deets:
•Saturday October 9th, 2021
•12:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Music Lineup:
•Dan Pellegrino 12-2pm
•FOX and the BEAR 2:30-5:30pm
Food Trucks:
• Hangry’s
•Umami Dogs
Parking & Shuttle:
Runs 11 am – 7 pm
Parking: The garage between 42nd and 43rd streets on Killiam Ave.
Shuttle Pickup: 43rd St in front of the garage at the crosswalk facing Chartway Arena
Shuttle Dropoff: 39th St next to the 7-11 across the street from Reaver Beach NFK
Paul Stetson Rice
Chelsea, NFK
Paul is the creator of NFKVA.com. He was born and raised in Norfolk, graduated from Virginia Tech, and narrowly avoided law school. Chat with him about economics, entrepreneurship, hip-hop, and hiking. When he's not working on five different projects, you'll catch him sharing a beer with friends at a local brewery.
