A Taste For The Unusual at Virginia Craft Fairs
Just like most other states, Virginia hosts many craft shows on an annual basis. The events held in Virginia, however, are unique because of their varied focus. While some of these craft shows are what you’d normally expect from a fair, and there are also those with a category all on their own. Let’s take a peek at some of these events so that you get an idea of what I’m talking about:
Every year, a convention for anime, manga, and otherwise Japanese culture happens in Crystal City, Virginia. It is usually held at the weekend before Thanksgiving. I can see how some local craftspeople will feel unwelcome with the distinct style of crafts imported to these events. As I noticed when I made my way through this particular day, though, I noticed some people who have taken it upon themselves to adapt. They craft sculptures of anime characters, and it sells relatively okay in the convention.
Another example of a different sort of festival is the MAGfest (Music And Gaming Festival). Its key features are large open video gaming rooms and loud concerts from bands that have been likewise inspired by video games. Like the anime convention earlier, figurines inspired by video games are well-received in this fair.
This time we consider another convention; the preferred event of science-fiction fans. The blending of futuristic events and fantasy elements continue to be more popular, and RavenCon’s science fiction convention gets an increase in participants at around the same rate annually. Space ship models are indeed the models here, with the sci-fi inspired miniatures getting only minimal attention. The only time a person would want to buy a figurine is when the very same actor who played the character is present.
These events are quite interesting, but I do understand if some people find it different than what they would expect from a craft show. But while yes, the crafts are not the main focus in these events, I find that these present an opportunity for those like me who have an artistic streak. In any case, you can always search for craft shows in Virginia if that caters to your taste more.