Berkley art fair gets bigger in return for 22nd year

BERKLEY — Berkley’s hometown art fair will be coming back for another go this month.

The Berkley Art Bash will take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, June 8, on 12 Mile Road between Coolidge Highway and Buckingham Avenue.

The Art Bash will be celebrating its 22nd year with nearly 200 artists participating and selling their pieces to the public. This year will feature the largest number of artists yet for the event.

“We changed (to) this larger footprint after COVID to allow the extra space, and it works well having that larger footprint,” Event Director April McCrumb said. “It naturally just let us be able to expand further. So we’re probably at the maximum. It is actually 200 spaces, but some artists have, like, double booths, so it’s about 180 artists and makers and authors.”

In the art fair world, McCrumb said, word gets around, and the love and support from the community has been great.

“In our application process, we asked the artists, like, have you been to Art Bash before? If so, you know, what are some things you like about it? And there are so many positive responses regarding just the crowds that come and that they’re supportive and they’re engaging,” she said. “We just have a really great collection of people that come to the show and support the artists, and that is very valuable in this day and age. That helps us, I think, once again having more artists and makers that are interested in participating in their show and the bonus is … a lot of the artists will shop the show as well in the stores and everything, so it’s just such a huge economy boost for our downtown businesses.”

Attendees can find booths selling everything from handmade lip balm, garden art and jewelry to bath and body works.

“There’s sort of a pet parade as well,” McCrumb said. “A lot of people bring their dogs out to the show, and they get their new collar each year … and they get their homemade treats.”

Nicole Caracci, of Berkley, will be bringing her homemade pet treats for dogs and cats to the fair under her Auntie’s Snackies business. Although not a newbie to the city or festivals, this will be Caracci’s first time at the Art Bash.

Caracci has been running Auntie’s Snackies for three years, which grew out of her hobby of baking her dogs their own treats.

“I started handing them out to coworkers or friends and family, and they went over really well, so I decided to make a business out of it,” she said. “(The business) has its ups and downs, but overall it’s been going pretty good. I have a full-time job, so I can’t put all of my energy into it, but for a side thing it’s been going pretty good.”

Caracci called fairs such as this one important for small businesses like Auntie’s Snackies.

“Especially with the outdoor fairs, a lot of people have their dogs, and I always have samples out, so they’re able to come up and sample and talk to everybody,” she said.

In addition to the variety of artistic ventures at the fair, there will be a kids zone with face paint, foam and balloon sculptures, and several food trucks on-site.

For more information, visit www.berkleyartbash.com.