Bismarck, North Dakota – The 37th edition of the Bismarck Big One Christmas Craft Fair has arrived in town, bringing with it some of the most imaginative minds in the Midwest for an all-encompassing holiday shopping expo.
The Big One craft fair has its largest and most well-known edition in Minot, but over the course of its existence, it has spread to other cities all over North Dakota, with more appearances across the state opening up as its notoriety rises. As opposed to the 30-plus years of every other event, the Bismarck Christmas Show is the newest of them, marking its 13th year this year.
More than 250 vendors gathered at the Bismarck Event Center on Friday and Saturday, November 18-19, to display a variety of goods, including toys, handcrafted goods, and items manufactured by carpentry, knitting, and other crafts. A couple of our favorite booths featured glass-printed images, sculptures made of precious metal and repurposed materials, and various freeze-dried treats from nearby farmers.
“Everybody that’s in our show is either making their items, or they’re the author of the books they’re selling, or they’re embellishing their items,” explains The Big One’s show owner and promoter Lisa Frank, “and it’s important to me to support those small businesses in our communities.”
Events like this are a significant selling point for small business owners who can use them to promote their products and messages globally. Suanna Kallis, a photographer who prints her images on glass, was inspired to pursue her passion after growing up on a farm. She sees The Big One as a perfect platform to share her work as well as discover new companies and interesting products.
“It’s a great opportunity for us small artists to get noticed,” says Kallis, “and just to see what all is out there and available that you might not see in bigger stores.”
Overall, we had a great day at The Big One and would heartily encourage you to visit there again or some of the nearby companies to locate the ideal holiday present.
Even though the Big Ones for this year are over, there will still be chances to take part in the craft fair in the near future. The Spring Fair will take place in Minot, North Dakota, on April 14 and 15, at the ND State Fairgrounds.
Visit the Big One Craft Fair’s website here for additional details.
