PEI Crafts Council happy with Christmas fair attendance

The PEICrafts Council wasn't sure how many people would come to this year's Christmas Craft Fair, afterthe event changed venues for the first time in five decades.

But Annie MacEachern, the council's executive director, said more than 2,000 people attended the fair as of early Sunday afternoon.

• PEI Crafts Council moves Christmas fair into Convention Centre

"That was a big concern on a lot of people's minds whether or not they would know to come down to the Delta for the first time in 51 years. But, we had a lineup to the door when we opened on Friday for about a solid hour. So, they found us,"she said.

She said vendors had mixed reviews of changing from the Confederation Centre to the Convention Centre connected to the Delta Prince Edward Hotel.

But there was also positive remarks from vendors and people in attendance, including that they liked the bright, open and welcoming atmosphere of the Convention Centre.

The positive remarks also gave the council ideas on how to grow the event in the future, she said.

"I think Charlottetown is going to see some new things come out of the PEICrafts Council in the coming years in regards to our craft fair and who knows what else I'm thinking bigger, that's all I can say,"MacEachern said.

MacEachern said the attendance was on par with previous years, but it was welcomesince the council was expecting a downturn in attendance with the change of venue.

Whether or not the council returnsto the new location in future years depends on feedback from the vendors, she said.

"It's all about what works best for the artisans. So, we'll judge based on that."

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