Accommodating 2,500 people for basketball and 6,000 for concerts and other productions, Furman University’s Timmons Arena has become a popular venue for many non-Furman events. Some of these include concerts from Needtobreathe (2013), Capital Cities (2015), and T-Pain (2017), among other seminars, banquets, and receptions. Recently, Timmons Arena provided a phenomenal location for the Indie Craft Parade.

On Saturday, Sept. 16, Furman University hosted the 13th Annual Indie Craft Parade in Timmons Arena. Although Timmons Arena usually serves as Furman’s basketball court, on Saturday it was filled with 118 artists and craft makers showcasing a variety of homemade items. Booths included artists showcasing clothing and apparel, ceramics, candles, fine arts, jewelry, and homemade food products, among various other works. 

The Indie Craft Parade, held annually since 2010, is sponsored by the Makers Collective. According to its website, the Makers Collective works to provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with the Greenville community. 

The Indie Craft Parade featured a “First Dibs Party” on Friday, Sept. 15, prior to the festival the next day. Along with having early access to artist’s booths, shoppers attending the First Dibs Party were able to take advantage of the free photobooth, free craft stations, and free giveaways.  

Following the First Dibs Party, Saturday’s event expanded opportunities for artists to showcase their work. Children were welcomed with more free craft activities such as coloring, painting, and even designing their own flower pots.

Originally, the Indie Craft Parade only sponsored artists based in the South. However, this restriction was lifted this year, allowing any artist to apply for a chance to hold a booth at this event. A wide variety of pieces were displayed and enjoyed by Furman students and community members. 

Furman senior Sierra Tufts stopped by Timmons Arena to view the art work. 

“I really enjoyed the diversity of artwork,” Tufts said. “My favorite booth was St. Christopher Gardens! People could make their own bouquet of flowers choosing from multiple felted flowers. I loved the opportunity for an interactive experience.” 

Other highlights included Dapper Ink’s classic Greenville apparel, Reclaim’s one-of-a-kind quilted coats, Kent Ambler’s creative woodcut work, Oh Little Wren’s cute stationery products, and of course, Tuft Candy’s epic cotton candy flavors, among many other booths!

The Indie Craft Parade brought many artistic talents right to Furman’s campus. Attending the craft parade myself, I was delighted to see such a range of artistic talents in one spot. All of the artists were passionate about what they do, making my experience even more enriching. 

Some of my favorite booths were Urban Collar’s necklaces and Matcha Nude’s samples of matcha tea lemonade. I am excited for future events at Timmons Arena and hope to see these events continue to bring in people from the local community, and even from across the United States, to see Furman’s beautiful campus. 

Follow the Makers Collective on Facebook and Instagram to stay informed about their upcoming events, including updates on their upcoming Mini Market and holiday pop up event.