The Annual Art Star Craft Bazaar Is Back! Here's How to Shop It

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• All images credit: Carrie Bender Hill for Art Star Philly

Seriously, if you have to choose one Philly craft fair to attend, the Art Star Craft Bazaar is it. Returning for its 11th year, the open air, waterfront bazaar, which is juried by the NoLibs boutique Art Star, will bring more than 100 local artisans and makers to the Penn's Landing Great Plaza this weekend (perfect timing for Mother's Day shopping, no?).

ASCB veterans already know to expect food, beer, and live music in addition to the event's selection of handcrafted, USA-made apparel, baby gifts, ceramics, stationery, jewelry, art prints, personal accessories, bath and body goods, and home decor items—really, there's a lot to take in here. That in mind, the bazaar's head honchos, Erin Waxman and Megan Brewster, have some advice for newbies: "The best thing for first timers is to do a quick walk through the event and scope out all the work, and then make a plan of attack on the goods you want." (Our suggestion: Check out the Art Star blog to preview the wares of this year's vendors.)

Brochures will have a blank space for jotting down booth names and numbers (this is the IKEA of craft fairs, after all), and keep in mind that conquering ASCB is a marathon, not a sprint. "Check out some vendors, sit at the stage area and listen to a band, get some food and go check out some vendors again," Waxman and Brewster say. Also note that cash is king, but some vendors will be equipped with card readers.

Free to attend, the bazaar is held 11am to 6pm Saturday, May 10, and Sunday, May 11. Show up early: The first 150 shoppers each day score a free goody bag full of crafty finds.
· Art Star Craft Bazaar [Official Site]
· Philly's 23 Best Gift Boutiques for Mother's Day—and Beyond [Racked Philly]
· The 21 Philly Shops You Should Be Following on Instagram [Racked Philly]