The Hermitage Handmade Festival: Haven for Handmade Aficionados & Locavores

The annual Hermitage Handmade Festival in Norfolk is bringing together all the elements for a picturesque weekend so get your IG feeds ready. Picture artisanal crafts, bespoke goods, a scenic setting, and a vibrant crowd. This Saturday, September 16th from 11 am – 4 pm, the festival takes over the gorgeous riverside grounds of the Hermitage Museum & Gardens.

Over 100 juried “makers” will be vending their small-batch, handmade goods that showcase skills rarely seen in the big box stores. Hand-thrown ceramics, small-farm flower arrangements, upcycled jewelry, and vintage-inspired leather goods will fill the artisan booths. This is a haven for Etsy lovers, local-first consumers, and supporters of our community’s creative talent.

Festival attendees can find incredible ceramics from Chao Studio, stunning woodworks by 91 Wood Times, funky stained glass from Kiyay Studios, and more spanning clothes, jewelry, flowers, art, and home goods.

Stay fueled while exploring with eats from some of the best local food trucks. Locotos, an Indonesian-Bolivian fusion truck, will be lighting up taste buds with their Bolivian beef meatballs, Chorrellana steak sandwiches, and multiple kinds of Sate. The Salty Cactus food truck will be slinging southwest-inspired bites, and if you’re lucky they’ll have their crowd-pleasing jalapeno & pineapple tacos. J&K Style Grill, Kona Ice, and a full draft beer truck will round out the refreshments.

In between browsing the booths, snap some Instagram-worthy shots posing with Fairy Hair by Chelsea, face paints by ButtarCups, and a special scavenger hunt for the kids. Guests can even tour the special museum exhibition “Claudia Bueno: Echoes of the Heart” during the event for a dose of incredible contemporary art.

The chill riverside setting complements the creative energy of this market perfectly. The museum grounds offer a beautiful backdrop for the artisan booths and activities. Don’t miss this chance to snag Etsy-worthy goods you won’t find at any basic chain retailer. Gather your shopping squad and festival friends visit to one of the area’s most creative events of the year.

NEED TO KNOW:

Complementary shuttle service is available from 4 satellite parking locations this year: Larchmont Library (6525 Hampton Blvd)

Second Presbyterian Church (7305 Hampton Blvd)

The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd (7400 Hampton Blvd)

CrossFit 757 (7712 Hampton Blvd)

The shuttle will run continuously to each satellite location during the event and drop off at the Hermitage front gate. No on-site parking is available. A limited number of disabled parking spots will be available across from the front gate. Ample street parking is also available in the neighborhood. Well-behaved dogs on leashes are permitted.

This year’s festival poster and designs were created by Jensen J.

Find all the details, including a full list of vendors here.

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