Submitted by Alli Behnke, HKYFS
(November 11, 2026) — One of Haddam and Killingworth’s most anticipated holiday traditions returns on December 5, 2026, when Haddam-Killingworth Youth and Family Services hosts the 37th Annual HK Craft Fair at Haddam-Killingworth Middle School from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
For nearly four decades, the Craft Fair has been about much more than holiday shopping. It is one of those special days each year when families, students, artists, volunteers, local organizations and neighbors from across Haddam and Killingworth come together under one roof. For HKYFS, that sense of connection is exactly the point.
Throughout the year, HKYFS works to create opportunities for young people and families to feel connected to one another and to the larger community. The Craft Fair is one of the biggest examples of that mission in action. The first weekend in December at HKMS is a day built around local talent, volunteerism, generosity and simply spending time together.
This year, approximately eighty artists and crafters will fill the halls of HK Middle School with handmade and one-of-a-kind finds. Shoppers can expect everything from pottery, jewelry, artwork, textiles and home décor to specialty gifts and plenty of unexpected treasures perfect for the holidays. Returning vendors who have become part of the tradition will be joined by new artists and makers, giving longtime visitors familiar favorites to look forward to while making each year feel fresh. While the vendors fill the gymnasium, it is the students and community volunteers working behind the scenes who help make the event possible.
Each year, more than twenty-five local youth volunteer across two days, helping vendors unload and set up, assisting throughout the fair, supporting guests and activities, and helping with cleanup once the event winds down. Their involvement turns the Craft Fair into more than a seasonal event. Young people have a meaningful way to contribute to their community, work alongside adults, and experience firsthand the impact of showing up for others.
That intergenerational spirit is part of what makes the day feel uniquely HK: students working alongside neighbors, local organizations connecting with families, longtime residents catching up in the hallways, and visitors discovering artists and makers they might never have encountered otherwise.
Guests can make a day of it with food and warm drinks, family-friendly activities, community organizations, and a raffle featuring items generously donated by participating crafters. Whether you arrive determined to finish your holiday shopping or simply want to wander the halls and enjoy the atmosphere, there is plenty happening throughout the day.
The Craft Fair also is an important fundraiser for HKYFS. Admission is free, but proceeds from the Fair directly support the programs, prevention initiatives, family services, youth leadership opportunities and community events HKYFS provides throughout the year. That means every booth visited, raffle ticket purchased, and hour volunteered contributes to something bigger.
At a time of year that can feel increasingly busy, the HK Craft Fair offers something refreshingly simple: a chance to slow down, shop locally, support one another and spend a few hours together as a community. Bring a friend, bring the family, and make the HK Craft Fair part of your holiday tradition.
