Craft Fairs Near Bartlett IL: Oct 17–18 Guide
Four craft fairs near Bartlett IL run this weekend — from a 140-vendor fair at Bartlett High School to a 200-booth festival in Geneva.
By Bartlett Guide · Published October 17, 2026
Mid-October is peak craft-fair season, and this is the densest weekend of the fall. The craft fairs near Bartlett IL on October 17–18 range from a small, earth-first market inside Fall Fest to the biggest school craft show in town — and three of the four support a local cause. Here they are in the order we would shop them, each checked against the organizer's listing or the verified events feed.
Start in town: Bartlett High School's 140-vendor fair
Home for the Holidays / Art and Craft Fair — Bartlett High School
The 20th annual edition of Bartlett High School's craft fair fills the school with more than 140 vendors — holiday décor, gifts for the home, and raffle prizes along the way. Five food trucks keep you fueled: Coffee Break, Da Pizza Company, D's Treats, Hawaiian Food Truck, and Frankly American. Admission is free, donations are encouraged, and proceeds go to the BHS Fine Arts Boosters, which support the school's Theatre, Speech, Visual Arts, Orchestra, Choir, and Band programs.
This is the weekend's anchor fair: earliest opening, free to walk in, and enough vendors to do real holiday shopping in one pass.
The small one inside Fall Fest: the Eco Friendly Craft Fair
Eco Friendly Craft Fair — Bartlett Nature Center
Built into the Park District's Fall Fest, this small fair is capped at just 20 vendor booths — local makers selling earth-conscious work, from handmade goods to upcycled treasures. It is the browse-in-ten-minutes option: shop the stalls, then stay for the free hayrides and $3 pumpkins at Fall Fest itself.
If Fall Fest is already on your Saturday, this is your craft stop by default — our Fall Fest guide has the full morning plan. Expect quality over quantity here.
Next door in Carol Stream: Holiday Happenings
Holiday Happenings Craft & Vendor Fair — Glenbard North High School
The third annual Holiday Happenings fair brings crafters and vendors to Glenbard North High School in Carol Stream for early holiday shopping. Proceeds benefit two local causes at once: the Glenbard North Athletic Boosters and the Dominic Saverino Charitable Organization.
Carol Stream is the closest drive after Bartlett itself — the easy second stop if the high school fair leaves anyone uncrossed.
The big weekend trip: Festival of Arts and Crafts in Geneva
Festival of Arts and Crafts — Northwestern Medicine Field, Geneva
The largest show of the weekend takes over the Kane County Cougars' ballpark for two days: around 200 booths of U.S.-made arts and crafts, with live cover bands each afternoon. It is a brand-new show at this venue, and the proceeds benefit Northwestern Medicine Living Well Cancer Resources.
Geneva is the only fair here that runs Sunday too — the fallback if Saturday fills up, and still a cheap day out at $5 with free parking. For the rest of the month, see our Bartlett fall events guide and the daily Bartlett events page.
Save these craft fair dates near Bartlett
- Saturday, November 14 — Spring Lakes Fall Craft Fair, Bartlett. A hometown November date listed on FestivalNet's Illinois show calendar; confirm venue and hours closer to the day.
- November 21–22 — Christmas on the Fox Art and Craft Show, St. Charles. The long-running all-handmade holiday show returns the weekend before Thanksgiving, per FestivalNet's 2026 listing.
- Friday, December 4 — Holiday Shopping Blitz, Bartlett. The Park District's big one: 100+ crafters and vendors fill the triple gymnasium at Bartlett Community Center, 700 S. Bartlett Road — jewelry, décor, ceramics, candles, quilts, gourmet foods, and more. Entry is a $2 donation to the Bartlett Parks Foundation.
- Fall 2027 — Harvest Craft Fair returns. The Park District's two-day Harvest Craft Fair returns in Fall 2027, so December's Shopping Blitz is the last big in-town fair of 2026.
How to shop four fairs in one weekend
- Saturday route: Bartlett High School at 9 a.m. (free, biggest in-town selection), Fall Fest and the Eco Fair before they close at 2 p.m., then Glenbard North if you still have energy.
- Save Geneva for Sunday. It is the only two-day show — Sunday 10 a.m.–4 p.m. avoids doubling up on Saturday.
- Bring a tote and small bills. School fairs move fastest with cash — and 140 booths means more bags than you expect.
- Shop the cause. Three of the four fairs fund something local — a decent tiebreaker when two fairs look equal.
Craft fairs near Bartlett IL: quick questions
What craft fairs are near Bartlett IL this weekend, October 17–18?
Four: Bartlett High School's Home for the Holidays fair (Sat 9 a.m.–3 p.m.), the Eco Friendly Craft Fair inside Fall Fest (Sat 10 a.m.–2 p.m.), Holiday Happenings at Glenbard North in Carol Stream (Sat from 9 a.m.), and Geneva's Festival of Arts and Crafts (Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m.).
How much does the Bartlett High School craft fair cost?
Admission is free; donations are encouraged. Proceeds support the BHS Fine Arts Boosters and the school's theatre, speech, visual arts, orchestra, choir, and band programs.
What is the biggest craft fair near Bartlett this weekend?
Geneva's Festival of Arts and Crafts — around 200 booths, Sat–Sun 10 a.m.–4 p.m., $5 admission, kids 11 and under free, free parking. In Bartlett itself, the high school fair is biggest at 140-plus vendors.
When is the next big craft fair in Bartlett after this weekend?
The Park District's Holiday Shopping Blitz on Friday, December 4, 2026, at Bartlett Community Center (700 S. Bartlett Road) — more than 100 crafters and vendors, with a $2 entry donation to the Bartlett Parks Foundation. The Spring Lakes Fall Craft Fair is also listed in Bartlett on November 14.
Is the Eco Friendly Craft Fair the same day as Fall Fest?
Yes — the Eco Friendly Craft Fair is part of Fall Fest at Bartlett Nature Center on Saturday, October 17, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. The fair is capped at 20 vendor booths selling handmade and upcycled, earth-conscious goods.
Sources & verification. Details verified October 17, 2026 against organizer listings; hours and prices change — confirm before heading out.