The YWCA Westfield Arts & Crafts Festival takes place Friday and Saturday, July 30.

YWCA Westfield resumed its annual Arts & Crafts Festival last year after skipping 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is on track for another successful event this year, which will be the 50th anniversary of the annual festival. The free two-day event will take place on Friday and Saturday, July 30 in Moore Park, where visitors will be able to browse dozens of booths offering handmade items including home decor, clothing, toys and original art.

“We can’t wait for this year’s Arts & Crafts Festival, said YWCA Westfield Executive Director Stephanie Stevens. “YWCA Westfield is thankful to the committee members for all of the work that goes into organizing a successful event.”

About 125 vendors are expected to participate and approximately 5,000 people will attend the community event. Food is provided by a variety of vendors and includes healthy salads, chicken wings, beef on weck, wraps, baked goods and ice cream. There is something to appeal to every palate!

“We look forward to hosting the Arts & Crafts Festival every year, and we know the community looks forward to it as well,” said YWCA Westfield Board President and event Chairperson Kathryn Bronstein. “This event showcases the impressive work of local artists and craftspeople, and it also shines the spotlight on Westfield as a beautiful place to visit in our region. We think this year, our 50th, will be our best yet!”

The history of the event goes back to 1971 when Kate Alexander and Linda Dunn decided the Village of Westfield needed an arts & crafts show. The chamber agreed to provide insurance and 16 exhibitors set up tables throughout Moore Park. Local organizations provided food in past years: the Dutchmeister’s sold hot dogs and sauerkraut, the Wives for the Survival of Agriculture hosted a pie booth, the Knights of Columbus provided curly fries, the Presbyterian church sponsored a Pennsylvania Dutch dinner, JayCees offered homemade ice cream sandwiches, and the Exempt fire department sold waffles. Numerous volunteers helped make the yearly event successful.

Over the years, proceeds exceeding $150,000 were invested to support community projects such as holiday decorations, a freezer for the soup kitchen, park benches, trash cans and lights to beautify the area and start-up funds were provided to help launch the Economic Development Corp.

In 1992, the village turned over the festival to the YWCA Westfield which took on the planning and hosting of the event which is now known as the YWCA Westfield Arts & Crafts Festival.

At that time Linda Dunn was quoted as saying “We had a lot of fun and have great memories of those early years. After the first 20 years it was time to look for new energy, new organizers and a new sponsor. We congratulate the YWCA and we’re looking forward to another 20 years of the show.”

Who could have imagined in 1971 that the show would still be a popular attraction 50 years later? Mark your calendars in order not to miss this spectacular event. For those attending, parking is available throughout the Village as well as at the Westfield Academy and Central School bus garage with continuous shuttles to the park and back. Proceeds from booth rental are now used by the YWCA Westfield to support its mission of empowering women and eliminating racism.