Flea Market Gets Extreme Makeover, Emerges As Spring Festival

After sponsoring the annual SUUS Flea Market on the Madison Green for nearly four decades,  the Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Society re-visioned the event in 2010, and the Shoreline Spring Festival was born. The event was a success, and thus the second annual Shoreline Spring Festival is upon us. 

The Shoreline Spring Festival will feature artists, photographers, handcrafts (including pottery, metal work, quilts, weaving, wood crafts, toys), fair trade and more, said SSF Team Leader Mary Strieff.

"The Shoreline Spring Festival is a wonderful opportunity to see a wide range of hand-made items from artisans from throughout Connecticut and the region. We were so impressed by the energy and creativity evident in the many beautiful displays at the show last year, and we know this year will be even better," said Elizabeth Conrad, co-founder of  Common Good Market (www.commongoodmarket.com), which offers a selection of locally made, eco-friendly products for the home made by New England artisans and craftspeople. 

Last year's festival drew over 120 vendors, including green energy and community based organizations, and food.  Folk singers Jim Scott and Martha Sandafer provided entertainment.

Vendors to be featured this year include artists, artisans, crafters, fair trade vendors, local farms and gardens, green energy and eco-friendly companies, prepared food vendors, and non-profit and community organizations.  The local jazz group Airborne has been selected to perform this year.

The annual flea market which SUUS had been doing for years and years was re-envisioned, Strieff said, because "the energy and volunteers just kept on decreasing and so a small group of people brainstormed and came up with what we have now - something that may be new and fresh to Madison and something that we as faith community support."

Proceeds are used in a variety of ways. "Our teens will be earning money for their service trip to Appalachia this summer by running our bake sale. Money earned from the vendor fees goes to putting on the event and any profits go to Shoreline UU Society's mission," Strieff informed.

She added, "Because of the wealth of first class artists and craftspeople in Connecticut we offer an affordable opportunity for them to sell their handmade products. We also support the efforts of all those who work to produce local and organic foods, natural and sustainable products, as well as community organizations whose mission is to help the local and global communities.  We also are proud to be able to offer this event free to the public (at this time) so that no one needs to think twice about attending."

"The Shoreline Spring Festival is an important event for us to connect with our customers and meet new artisans and craftspeople from Connecticut.  We hope residents of the Shoreline will come to the festival to see the extraordinary work of the talented people who live right here in the area. Buy Local, Buy New England!" Conrad said.

The event will be held on the Madison Green from 10am until 4pm on Saturday, May 21.