05/09/2025
How can it be 20 years since this lovely monthly Craft Fair started in Troon. Well done Alex & Gary for keeping it going at it’s new home at Geisland Estate. Please joun us on Saturday for this special birthday x So many lovely Craft Stalls x
As we approach our 20th birthday on 6th September we thought we'd give you a little potted history of Scottish Arts and Crafts Fair. Grab yourself a cuppa and read on as we attempt to condense the last 20 years into a few lines... And fail miserably 😆
Our craft fairs began in September 2005 and we've been organising the monthly events since February 2008. We both run the craft fair as volunteers in our "spare time" and it keeps us very busy! Our aim has always been to bring a friendly event, with a great range of quality crafts, to the public each month, and to give crafters an affordable outlet for their creations.
Troon - 2005 to 2020
The craft fair began in Troon Old Parish where it operated for the first few months and was briefly known as "Designer Arts & Crafts Exhibition". From 2006 we moved to the Walker Hall in Troon and became "Ayrshire Arts and Crafts Fair" with 26 stalls. Our events continued to grow and we moved to the larger Troon Concert Hall with 40 stalls. The craft fair built up a great reputation and attracted more than 1500 visitors each month. Unfortunately, after nearly 15 years in Troon, South Ayrshire Council decided the focus of the venue should be on music concerts and a series of changes forced upon us at the venue made it impossible for us to continue there and by late 2019 the hunt was on for a new venue. In 2020 we rebranded as "Scottish Arts and Crafts Fair" as we were aware that we may have to look out with Ayrshire for a suitable venue. Our event on 1st February 2020 was our last event in Troon and the Covid pandemic resulted in the temporary closure of event venues.
Online - 2020 to 2021
During the pandemic we moved online and ran "Scottish Arts & Crafts Fair Online" whilst we continued the search for a new venue for our physical events to return to once it was safe to do so. The online events allowed crafters to create again and to reconnect with customers and friends. This turned out to be a much needed lifeline for many during a strange and isolating time.
Kilmarnock - 2021
We thought we had found a new home in 2021 at CentreStage in Kilmarnock and our events returned in September 2021. Although we were well supported by crafters and the public, the venue was unable to take bookings from us beyond June 2022. It wasn't viable for us to continue without the security of bookings for the full year, so it was back to the drawing board...
Beith - Since March 2022
Enter Beith Trust who own Geilsland Estate, they invited us to view their venue in December 2021. We immediately saw the great potential the space offered the craft fair and we booked to return in March 2022. As the hall is so large, we now have 53 each month and a seating area for customers with drinks & food available from Mocha JaK’s.
Thank you to everyone who continues to support our events, it's lovely to meet you all each month and it makes the hard work we put into running the craft fair worthwhile. We're looking forward to celebrating our 20th birthday on Saturday, it's quite an achievement, and it would be lovely if you could join to mark the occasion. We’re happy to accept gifts of cake, gin, champagne, and lemsips (as we're both recovering from a rather nasty cold bug) 😁
See you soon,
Alex & Gary
