Craft Shows & Country Fairs in Kansas

Kansas has more craft show history than most people expect. Art in the Park in Lawrence has been running since 1964. The Hillsboro Arts & Crafts Fair is in its 57th year. The Kansas State Fair has been held every September in Hutchinson since 1913 — 10 days of livestock, rodeo, 4-H, and craft and fine arts exhibitions at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.

From the tallgrass prairies of the Flint Hills to the wheat fields of south-central Kansas, the handmade tradition here runs deep — and quilting, in particular, is a craft that defines the state in a way few other traditions define a place.

What to Expect at Kansas Craft Shows

Kansas craft events cover a wide range. At one end: the Mulvane Art Fair at Washburn University in Topeka, which brings 90+ nationally juried artists to the campus each June in its 32nd year. Lawrence's Art in the Park fills South Park with 130+ artists and 20,000+ visitors over a September weekend, organized by the Lawrence Art Guild since 1964.

At the other end: weekly community markets, indoor holiday bazaars with 200 booths, county fair craft halls, and church shows listed in local Facebook groups.

In Wichita, the Old Town Farm & Art Market has run every Saturday since 1991 — April through December, 75+ vendors, 835 E 1st St N in the historic Old Town district. It's less a one-off event and more a routine of community life. The ICT Artisan Expo holds a strict line: 200 booths, handmade and homemade only, no MLMs, no direct sales, no resellers.

Quilting is the craft that defines Kansas more than any other. The Prairie Quilt Guild in Wichita has 350+ members. The Kansas Capital Quilters Guild in Topeka has 150+ and has been active since 1986. Quilt shows, guild sales, and fiber arts events appear in nearly every region of the state — rooted in a heritage that stretches from Mennonite communities in south-central Kansas to pioneer homesteads in the northeast. The Weavers Guild of Greater Kansas City, organized in 1954, extends this tradition into hand weaving, spinning, and felting.

Pottery, jewelry, woodworking, and photography are consistent at juried shows statewide. At church bazaars and community fairs: candles, baked goods, handmade home goods.

Country Fairs & County Fairs in Kansas

The Kansas State Fair has been held at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson since 1913. Ten days, second Friday after Labor Day each year. The state's largest annual gathering: livestock competitions, 4-H exhibits, rodeo, entertainment, and craft and fine arts exhibitions alongside 1,000+ commercial vendor booths.

With 105 counties, Kansas has one of the more extensive county fair systems in the Great Plains. A few worth knowing:

• Riley County Fair — CiCo Park, Manhattan; late July (July 24–28); 4-H exhibits, Kaw Valley Rodeo, nightly entertainment, carnival
• Central Kansas Free Fair — Dickinson County Fairgrounds, Abilene; late July–early August; traditional free-admission fair; 4-H and FFA livestock shows
• Douglas County Fair — Lawrence; youth craft and home arts exhibits alongside livestock programming

In Abilene, Heritage Days at the Dickinson County Heritage Center (412 S Campbell) blends county fair tradition with living history — steam engine carousel, antique tractor show, craft vendors, and live bluegrass music. It's one of the few Kansas events where heritage craft demonstrations and handmade vendor booths share the same grounds as working antique farm equipment.

Popular Cities for Craft Events in Kansas

Wichita

The Old Town Farm & Art Market is the weekly anchor — Saturdays, April through December, Old Town district, since 1991. ICT Artisan Expo: 200 handmade-only booths. Vintage Market Days of Wichita at the Wichita Sports Forum runs each March. Holiday season brings bazaars, boutique shows, and the Somewhere in Winter festival starting downtown in late November.

Lawrence

Art in the Park at South Park is the signature event — juried, free, 130+ artists, 20,000+ visitors, organized since 1964. The City of Lawrence runs three separate Artisan Fairs annually (Spring, Fall, Holiday Extravaganza). The Lawrence Art Guild holds its own Holiday Art Fair at Cider Gallery in East Lawrence. Lawrence documented 20+ holiday markets in a single November season.

Topeka

The Mulvane Art Fair at Washburn University — 90+ nationally juried artists, beer garden, live music, food trucks, first weekend of June, 32nd annual in 2026. Cider Days at the Stormont Vail Events Center is Northeast Kansas's largest arts and crafts festival. The Spirit of Kansas show at Lake Shawnee runs 4th of July weekend. The NOTO Arts District in North Topeka has a growing independent artisan scene.

Manhattan

The Pumpkin Patch Arts and Craft Show draws 150 vendors from six states to Manhattan each September. The Homemade for the Holidays show fills a large indoor facility in November–December with 55+ craft vendors. The Riley County Fair runs late July at CiCo Park. The Museum of Art and Light, which opened downtown in November 2024, is drawing new visitors to the Flint Hills.

Abilene

Heritage Days at the Dickinson County Heritage Center combines living history and craft vendors — steam carousel, antique tractors, classic cars, bluegrass. The Annual Holiday Craft & Gift Show at Sterl Hall (50–60 booths) serves holiday shoppers in December. Abilene's 150+ antique vendors within downtown walking distance draw the same audiences that attend handmade markets.

Seasonal Guide to Kansas Craft Shows

• Riley County Fair, Manhattan (late July)
• Central Kansas Free Fair, Abilene (late July–early August)
• Douglas County Fair, Lawrence (August)

• Kansas State Fair, Hutchinson (10 days, mid-September)
• Hillsboro Arts & Crafts Fair (57th annual, September 19, 2026)
• Art in the Park, Lawrence (September)
• Pumpkin Patch Arts and Craft Show, Manhattan (late September, 150 vendors)
• Cider Days, Topeka (September)
• Lawrence Fall Artisan Fair (October)

• Homemade for the Holidays, Manhattan
• Annual Holiday Craft & Gift Show, Abilene
• Lawrence Holiday Extravaganza Artisan Fair and Art Guild Holiday Fair
• Holiday Food & Gift Mart, Topeka
• Old Town Farm & Art Market holiday hours through December 19, Wichita

Types of Events You'll Find

• Nationally juried fine art fairs — Mulvane Art Fair (Topeka), Art in the Park (Lawrence), Hillsboro Arts & Crafts Fair
• Weekly recurring markets — Old Town Farm & Art Market (Wichita, Saturdays April–December, est. 1991)
• Large multi-vendor handmade expos — ICT Artisan Expo (Wichita, 200 booths), Pumpkin Patch Arts and Craft Show (Manhattan, 150 vendors)
• Upscale vintage-and-handmade markets — Vintage Market Days of Wichita
• County fairs with craft exhibits — Kansas State Fair (Hutchinson), Riley County Fair (Manhattan), Central Kansas Free Fair (Abilene), Douglas County Fair (Lawrence), Shawnee County Fair (Topeka)
• Heritage and living history craft events — Heritage Days (Abilene, Dickinson County Heritage Center)
• City-sponsored artisan fairs — Lawrence Spring, Fall, and Holiday Extravaganza Artisan Fairs
• Holiday markets — Homemade for the Holidays (Manhattan), Lawrence Holiday Extravaganza, Topeka Holiday Food & Gift Mart, Wichita holiday bazaars
• Quilt shows and fiber arts events — Prairie Quilt Guild (Wichita), Kansas Capital Quilters Guild (Topeka)

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to find craft shows in Kansas?

Fall is the peak. September alone brings the Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson, Art in the Park in Lawrence, the Hillsboro Arts & Crafts Fair, Cider Days in Topeka, and the Pumpkin Patch Arts and Craft Show in Manhattan.

November and December bring the heaviest concentration of indoor holiday markets statewide. For a weekly market without event-planning overhead, the Old Town Farm & Art Market in Wichita runs every Saturday April through December.

Are there country fairs with handmade vendors in Kansas?

Yes. The Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson includes craft and fine arts exhibitions with 1,000+ commercial vendor booths over 10 days. The Riley County Fair in Manhattan, the Central Kansas Free Fair in Abilene, the Douglas County Fair in Lawrence, and the Shawnee County Fair in Topeka all include handmade and home arts components.

Heritage Days in Abilene is especially worth noting — craft vendors share the Dickinson County Heritage Center grounds with working steam machinery and living history demonstrations.

How do I find craft shows near me in Kansas?

CraftShow Events lets you search by city, county, or statewide across Kansas to browse upcoming craft shows, handmade markets, and county fairs with dates and venue details.

Are Kansas craft shows free to attend?

Many are. Art in the Park in Lawrence is free. The Central Kansas Free Fair in Abilene is free by tradition. The Old Town Farm & Art Market in Wichita is free to attend weekly.

The Mulvane Art Fair at Washburn University charges a modest admission. The Kansas State Fair charges general admission for grounds access. Holiday markets vary — some free, some small entry fee.

What types of crafts are popular at Kansas fairs?

Quilting is the defining craft tradition — the Prairie Quilt Guild (Wichita, 350+ members) and Kansas Capital Quilters Guild (Topeka, 150+ members) anchor a statewide tradition with roots in Mennonite and pioneer heritage.

Fiber arts and hand weaving are strong through the Weavers Guild of Greater Kansas City tradition (organized 1954). Pottery, jewelry, woodworking, and fine art painting appear at virtually all juried shows. Heritage and agricultural craft demonstrations — blacksmithing, leather tooling, traditional textiles — appear at county fair events.

Are there craft shows that focus only on handmade goods in Kansas?

Yes. The ICT Artisan Expo in Wichita enforces a strict handmade-only policy: 200 booths, no MLMs, no direct sales, no resellers. The Mulvane Art Fair and Art in the Park are juried shows with screened applications. The Old Town Farm & Art Market carries "From the Land of Kansas" state certification for authentic Kansas-made products.

Discover Events in Kansas

CraftShow Events covers craft shows, handmade markets, artisan fairs, and county fairs across Kansas. Search the state-wide calendar — from the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson to South Park in Lawrence to Old Town Wichita — and filter by city, date, and event type to find what's coming up near you.