More than 10,000 people are expected to flock to Deloraine this weekend for the Tasmanian Craft Fair’s 45th outing, with visitor numbers expected to more than triple the town’s population.
The fair will open for the last time in its current format, with makers setting up stalls across the town ahead of the three-day event, which runs from Friday to Sunday with live demonstrations, music and local food and drink spread across venues and galleries.
There will be 238 stallholders, including 195 craft exhibitors and 43 food and beverage exhibitors.
Fair director Stephanie Johnston said more than 10,000 visitors came through the gates last year and organisers expected even more this weekend.
“There’s a real buzz around Deloraine as our stallholders set up and everything is pointing to one of the biggest crowds we’ve ever had,” she said.
The Rotary Club of Deloraine, which runs the event, announced earlier this month it would not hold the fair in its current format in 2027.
At the time, Johnston said staging the fair each year required a significant commitment from club members.
“While Rotarians have worked tirelessly to deliver the fair each year, the extensive effort required has become increasingly difficult due to an aging membership base and a shrinking pool of volunteers,” she said.
After this year’s event, the club will take time to reflect on the fair’s “legacy” and explore a new identity and vision for it.
Johnston said this year’s fair would be “bittersweet”.
“For more than four decades, our Rotarians and volunteers have poured their hearts into this event and it has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for community projects here and overseas,” she said.
“So this is the year to come along, enjoy everything Deloraine has to offer and help us give the event the send off it deserves.”
This year’s feature exhibit is a full-size replica of the 1841 Rajah Quilt, made by Tasmanians Anne and Rob Thompson.
Past winners of the Premier’s Art Award will be up for auction and the program also includes sheep dog trials on Saturday and Sunday, daily pottery demonstrations, activities for children and live music.
Gates open at 9am and close at 4pm, with tickets available online and at the gates.
Full details on the program are on the website.
