Local DIY projects highlighted at 'Craft Lake City'


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SALT LAKE CITY — Pinterest and Etsy have increased a growing trend of making, fixing and crafting things from scratch. The do-it-yourself frenzy has grown to an all-time high, and for those who need more instruction or motivation than a picture online, the "Craft Lake City" DIY Festival is offering two days of DIY instructions and ideas.

Craft Lake City DIY Festival is an annual festival held in downtown Salt Lake City featuring handmade arts, science and technology exhibits. The event promotes local artists, musicians, chefs and engineers. The event originated in 2009 and has grown so much over the years that the non-profit organization decided to expand the festival to two days rather than one.

President and founder of the Craft Lake City board, Angela Brown, said she was born and raised in Salt Lake City but wanted to move to a new place that had "more opportunites."

"I started to fall in love with Salt Lake City the more I traveled," Brown said. "I realized that we have such a beautiful backdrop with the mountains and I wonder what I could do to make Salt Lake City a better place to live?' "

Brown said that she saw the do-it-yourself movement was exploding, and she decided to bring that opportunity to Utah as a unifying effort. She wanted to draw from her cultural background of canning with her mother, and she wanted to create community involvement.

EnjiGO will offer several workshops for kids including:
  • Marshmallow Shooters
  • Stomp Rockets
  • Making mini Light Sabers
  • Juggling Balls
  • Building with Duct Tape
  • Marble Roller Coasters

Brown also works at Slug Magazine and when she began the Craft Lake City DIY Festival in 2009, it was sponsored by Slug Magazine with 72 exhibitors. Now the event has progressed into a large non-profit organization with around 240 exhibitions scheduled for this year's festival.

Around 200 locals will participate in the artisan category by advertising their handmade crafts and foods and 40 exhibits will be displayed in the DIY engineer category. Brown said she wanted people to realize that DIY projects can be branched into science and technology so the engineer category was added in 2012.

"Instead of using a knitting needle, they are using computers or a laser printer," she said. "They make things like robots or solar panels."

Several of the exhibits will have items for sale as well as workshops for how to recreate the DIY projects. The festival will also host live music from local bands and a mini film festival.


It's all about supporting local economy. Instead of going to Walmart and spending $20 on a birthday gift, why not buy something locally and actually meet the artist?

–Angela Brown, President and Founder of Craft Lake City


"Everything is local," Brown said. "That is one thing that sets us apart from other festivals. That's why I called the event 'Craft Lake City' because I really feel like Salt Lake City doesn't get much credit nationally as far as our theme goes. I know a lot of wonderfully talented and intelligent people here. It's all about supporting local economy. Instead of going to Walmart and spending $20 on a birthday gift, why not buy something locally and actually meet the artist?"

The festival will be held August 9 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and August 10 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Gallivan Center. Gallivan Avenue will also be closed during the event and booths will be set up in the street. Admission to the event is free.

Top Image Credit Melissa Cohn

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Faith Heaton Jolley

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