The Friends of The Pink Palace Museum will be hosting the 33rd annual Pink Palace Crafts Fair this weekend at Audubon Park.
"The fair will be held on the northeast corner of Audubon, across Perkins from Theatre Memphis," said Dan Hope, community relations manager for Pink Palace.
This year's craft fair will include more than 250 booths, featuring various craftsmen and artists.
"It's not so much crafts as it is fine arts," Hope said. "They should be called artists instead of craftsmen."
A variety of originally crafted pieces will be available, including jewelry, pottery and ceramics, wood furniture, fabrics, photography and paintings.
The fair will also feature the Kid's Craft Tent for children to "explore their creativity" and the Happy Farms Petting Zoo and kids' train.
Along with craft demonstrations like woodturning, blacksmithing, painting, spinning, weaving and beekeeping, musical entertainment will be provided.
School ensembles, including The University of Memphis sax quartet, and bluegrass and contemporary music artists will perform on the Bank of America Stage. The classic rock/reggae band Tropix will be headlining Friday afternoon at 4 p.m.
According to the Pink Palace Web site, their crafts fair is ranked as one of the country's best and attracts more than 30,000 visitors each year.
The Pink Palace crafts fair has been featured in several craftsmen publications as well. In 2002, it ranked as high as No. 31 out the top 200 fairs.
Hope said the fair began in 1973 as a fund-raiser.
"Way back when, the friends of the Pink Palace used the fair to raise funds for educational purposes at Pink Palace," he said. "It started out on the front lawn."
The fair, which was then called the Mid-south Crafts Fair, was later moved to Audubon Park in the late 80s.
Hope said city budget cuts have hit them hard this year, but there is hope with this year's fair.
"We hope a lot of people come out, have a great time and find something to take home with them," Hope said.
Admission prices are set at $7 for adults, $5 for senior citizens and $3 for children ages 3-12. Children three and under get in for free. Parking on the grounds is $2, but free parking is available near the Botanic Garden and has golf cart shuttles.
Since the crafts fair is a fund-raising project, the proceeds will go to the Family of Museums' programs.
Although they have most of their needed volunteers, the fair workers are still asking for volunteers for various positions.
"(Positions) can range from helping the crafts people, manning the information booth or running around delivering message in golf carts," Hope said. "Even if they have all they need, which I don't think they do, people can help with next year."
The event will run from Thursday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
For more information or to sign up as a volunteer call 320-6408.
