Strange is the Rage at This Family-Friendly Arts Festival

Browsing the aisles at most craft shows, flea markets or art festivals with little ones in tow can be traumatic for everyone involved. The kids are bored traipsing after mom, mom gets her arm pulled out of its socket by a child begging to leave, and vendors are ridden with anxiety by little hands grabbing at their breakable wares.

But at the ninth annual Strange Folk Festival in O’Fallon, Ill., the outdoor art scene is a true family affair. Mom and Dad can browse the Heartland’s most eclectic array of handmade, upcycled and vintage pieces for the home and their wardrobes while the kids bask in hands-on fun at a variety of activity stations while building their appreciation for both art and recycling at the same time.

“Strange Folk is Etsy in person and Pinterest in action!” said Autumn Wiggins, member of the O’Fallon Arts Commission and the founder of the Festival. “You’ll find 150 top-notch crafters, designers, illustrators, and vintage curators. Plus, we have bands, lots of fun food, and our one-of-a-kind handmade kids’ play area. We want patrons to have an authentic experience, free from the barrage of corporate advertising you find at a lot of events these days.”

At Strange Folk, you won’t find anything mass-produced, but instead a variety of handcrafted creations from across the country. Hundreds of applicants are juried, but only the most creative get a space to showcase their works. With booths featuring jewelry, accessories, home décor, clothing, and accessories (my favorite is the handcrafted silver origami jewelry from Allegro Arts), all with a trendy vintage twist, you can find a unique item that fits your unique personality.

What makes Strange Folk so special in a growing market of vintage and craft shows is its focus on family fun. Each year, its kids’ area grows bigger and bigger with a number of interactive and DIY projects. Everything for the playground is built by local crafters and carpenters, and a majority of the materials are upcycled goods from Wiggins’ craft store, The Upcycle Exchange, along with other salvage companies.

For starters, kids can go glamping at the Festival’s second annual Fort Featherbottom, a campsite-inspired adventure packed with activities that let their imaginations run wild.

“Since the weather is going to be pretty great, we’re concentrating a lot of efforts on Fort Featherbottom,” said Wiggins. “There are themed activity forts, a giant tunnel constructed from colorful afghans, and items from our vendors for kids to play with in our Pioneer Play Kitchen!”

In addition, little ones can go scavenging in The Hunt for Craft October, participate in art projects at the Washi Wonderland, or visit the Bearth Alpacas petting zoo. Grownups cna check out the DIY projects from Perennial, browse fall annuals from The O’Fallon Garden Club, watch a demo by the Artisan Guild of Southern Illinois, and jump into a themed photo booth.

For music lovers, Strange Folk features a mix of indie pop, folk and alternative rock bands all weekend long, including Super Fun Yeah Yeah Rocketship, Ellen the Felon, and River Kittens on Saturday and Letter to Memphis and The Vondrukes on Sunday.

According to Wiggins, she hopes every family member leaves with “Something they made, lots that they bought, and half a bag of kettle corn!”

The Strange Folk Festival will be held at O’Fallon Community Park, 401 E. 5^th St. in O’Fallon, Ill. on Saturday, September 27 and Sunday, September 28 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Admission and parking are both free. For more information, visit www.strangefolkfestival.com.