Yule find a unique holiday fair in East Hartford

"We Wish You a Scary Christmas" 

By BillieJo Scharfenberg
Valley Arts Council member

It’s Christmas craft fair time again and you know pretty much what to expect, a spate of bright and glittery granny craft venues, overflowing with cute and curious items variously comprised of glitter glue, gumdrops, macaroni shells, candy canes, felt, yarn, tinfoil, and Lifesavers candy rolls.

Abandon hope all ye who enter there.

Thankfully, there’s an alternative shopping option for Christmas shoppers of a less saccharin frame of mind.

Those with an appreciation for the darker aspect of the holidays, or any day for that matter, will find a unique Christmas fair featuring cemetery and mourning theme artwork, jewelry, and crafts, to be held from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Dec. 8 and from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dec. 9, at the South End Senior Center, 70 Canterbury St., East Hartford.

The show is sponsored by East Hartford's Friends of Center Cemetery, Inc.

This distinct holiday shopping venue features an assemblage of New England-based vendors offering cemetery, funeral, and mourning theme items including photography, books, paintings, stained glass, sculpture, T-shirts, cards, pins, old coins, and more.
Returning vendors include Sabrina's Grave Yard, Stained Glass by BillieJo, Steampunk Jewelry by Nicole Cerretani, and Graveyard Girls, among others.

Genealogists and history buffs will find books, photographs, plus all of the above. Attendees especially interested in genealogy may purchase a gift membership to one of the attendant genealogical organizations or a consultation with a genealogy professional.

For information about the art and craft show and/or the associated Genealogy seminar, call 860-643-5652, or e-mail shapbrown@cox.net.


Scharfenberg is manager of the Gallery@37, Derby, Ct.