Why we left Boston
A note to our fans -
We have heard you. So many people sharing their range of emotions, from sadness to outright anger, for taking the show 2 hours south from Boston.
This means a lot to us that people who supported this event for decades care so deeply. We wanted to offer an explanation.
Seaport Changes
The Seaport district has been booming in recent years for residents which is great for the city of Boston but has resulted in the closing of the Seaport World Trade Center in May of 2020 to accommodate more resident needs.
The area has been building loads of properties and not much parking. Many of you have pointed out before about the skyrocketing parking prices and difficulty finding affordable parking close by. We are hardly the only ones affected as well. The 123-year-old Society of Arts and Crafts had to close their retail space recently.
Seaport photo by Prateek Pisat @prateekpisat from Unsplash
Event Requirements
Free Parking at the new site!
We stomped the pavements of the city and surrounding regions looking for an alternative location, but our requirements are unique. We need:
A huge space (100,000 plus square feet) to accommodate the 350 Artisans and 30,000+ folks who shop with us each year
Reasonably priced parking for thousands of cars
Available dates in the Fall/Winter for 4+ days
A venue which will let our Exhibitors drive in to set up their booths, and give them enough time to do so
A venue that won’t force our hand to raise our ticket prices faster than cost of living
The new location at “Earth Tower” in Mohegan Sun Resort
Mohegan
This is how we landed on Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. Free parking, more flexibility for Artist setup, and the opportunity for us to make the festival a destination experience with lots to do for the whole family outside of shopping for incredible crafts from talented artisans.
Life-size gingerbread house in shopping gallery at Mohegan.
We’ve received numerous applications from new vendors from all over the country and are excited for a fresh 2020 experience for those of you who make it down. Our patrons who made the trek from Southern Mass, Rhode Island and New York are very excited about the shift and we’re working to make sure buses are available to those who want to make the trip from the Boston area.
Keep in touch
Be sure you’re signed up for our Newsletter for continued updates and news about shuttles, confirmed artisans, and more as we get closer to the holiday season.
Thank You
Most importantly, thank you for your patronage, and as the years move on we hope to host multiple shows in multiple parts of the country, including Massachusetts, so stay tuned!