The 54th annual Calico Fort Arts and Crafts Fair will return April 11–12, bringing decades of combined tradition, artistry and community spirit to one of the South’s longest-running outdoor festivals.
“It is something that the people here can do to bring activity to Fort Deposit, bring visitors to Fort Deposit, and anyone in Fort Deposit that wants to be involved, can be a part of it,” said Frieda Cross, a longtime member of the Fort Deposit Arts Council. “It’s just something for us all to do as a community and it brings the community closer together.”
Held on a six-acre outdoor site, the event is expected to feature more than 100 exhibitors and draw thousands of visitors over the two-day weekend. Gates will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, with admission set at $10 for adults and $2 for ages 2 to 18.
“It’s been around for 54 years and it’s still just a wonderful way to bring people together,” said Kim Vickery, who has volunteered with the event for almost 25 years. “The Fort Deposit Arts Council has worked really hard to try to put together the best show that we possibly can.”
Calico Fort began in 1972 as a grassroots effort by local residents to promote the small town and create an event that would draw visitors while celebrating handmade arts and crafts. That first year drew around 5,000 visitors and 155 exhibitors. Over the decades, it has grown into a regional attraction while maintaining its original mission of supporting the arts and funding community projects.
“This is definitely a community effort,” Vickery said. “We don’t bring in a lot of outside food trucks. There are local people doing all of the food. We also give two scholarships a year for high school students so we always try to put back into our community.”
Today, the fair features a wide range of handcrafted goods and demonstrations, from woodworking, metal art and fiber arts to handmade jewelry, baked goods, bath and body products and specialty foods. Exhibitors will also offer items such as leather goods, pottery, candles, plants, artwork and home décor.
