Shopping independently is made simple at the Jackalope Indie Artisan Fair. With more than 200 artisan and specialized booths selling art, food, home goods, body care products, accessories, jewelry, fashion, and other items, the fair is back this spring.
The fair will be hosted in Central Park in Old Town Pasadena on Saturday, April 29, and Sunday, April 30 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In 2014, Jackalope was created by Sara Diederich and Melissa Kohout, who had previously worked in the corporate art sector. “It just wasn’t the life for us,” Diederich said of sharing a cubicle wall.
It’s crucial to support these artists who put so much into these unique items.
The duo launched their first art fair in Central Park in the spring of 2015, and they currently run events in Burbank, Pasadena, Denver, and Minneapolis, as well as four other American cities.
The goal of the fair, according to Kohout, was to “provide a space where the community could meet the makers behind the items and give the makers this awesome opportunity to reach out to thousands of people and sell their items, so people could see that shopping can be affordable.”
Diederich and Melissa were unfazed by the pandemic despite having a start-up with an offline business model. They took advantage of the chance to increase their internet visibility by developing their social media and setting up an online marketplace.
Diederich and Melissa handled the pandemic well despite their in-person company style.
Even if they aren’t ready to shop in person, (the online market place) has been a great way to keep individuals connected to the handmade community. Because people from states where we’re not located are buying our artists, it has actually increased our reach, according to Diederich.
The foundation of Jackalope’s business strategy is supporting small businesses, and many of the craftsmen present at the fair are from the surrounding areas of Pasadena and Southern California. Diederich and Kohout are more aware than most of the value of small businesses in maintaining the health of a community’s economy by reinvesting profits from their operations in local services and taxes.
“Supporting these artists who invest so much time and effort into making these unique products is crucial. When you can help someone and support local businesses rather than the alternatives, it just feels nice, Kohout explained.
Families and pets are both welcome at the free event. The community event will feature kid-friendly activities, like DIY face painting, DIY watercolor painting, DIY slime making, and other arts and crafts. Kids’ music sessions with local artist Ricky England will also be available.
Visitors will be serenaded by local musicians The Simian Racket, Emily Anderson, Elmer Abapo, Turquoise Sulk, Mario Gonzalez Valdovinos, and Nicole Wedel & Andy Meneses in the grassy center of the park, where fairgoers may take in the shows and unwind while eating. Diederich recommends people to “come hungry” so they can take advantage of the gourmet artisan stalls and cuisine from nearby food trucks.
The event, which will feature a booth showcasing artwork from Pasadena High School’s art department, is sponsored by the Pasadena Unified School District. When instructors and students present a valid school ID, gift vouchers with reasonable discounts will be given to them.