TPDCo Hosts ‘Crafting for Christmas’ Fair December 16

Persons in search of authentic Jamaican-made gift items for Christmas are being invited to attend the free Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo) ‘Crafting for Christmas’ fair, on Friday, December 16 at Devon House, beginning at 11:00 a.m.

Craft Coordinator at TPDCo, Sheryll Lewis, told JIS News that the fair will feature 68 producers of locally made items in the categories of art and craft, jewellery, clothing, fine art, books, aromatherapy and skincare, among others.

“Persons can come out and purchase these items for themselves or to give a gift to someone,” said Ms. Lewis, adding that persons may also participate in a tour of Devon House at a reduced cost of J$1,000 or US$10.

Ms. Lewis informed that the artisans on location will include vendors from all craft markets across the island, along with those who participated in the Tourism Linkages Network ‘Christmas in July’ trade show.

“It is an opportunity for persons to sell their products to a wide range of [people] and make some funds [as well as] meet persons whom they can enter into a contractual relation with, to supply them with items,” she said.

She further indicated that the format of the event includes an opening ceremony at 11:30 a.m., followed by a series of cultural performances. The evening session includes an entertainment package, featuring recording artiste Agent Sasco; 2022 Jamaica Festival Song winner, Sacaj; 2022 Jamaica Gospel Star winner, Danielle Mayne, and saxophonist Daniel-John Jackson, among others.

Ms. Lewis is encouraging persons to visit the fair during their lunchtime and to bring the children for a visit when school ends.

The TPDCo ‘Crafting for Christmas’ fair began in 2015 and was last held in December 2019. It has seen artisans from as far as Trelawny and Westmoreland participating in the event.