New West Hyattsville Festival Seeks Vendors

Regional artists and crafts-people have yet another opportunity to showcase their wares in Hyattsville at the upcoming Handmade on Hamilton festival slated for late fall.

The city of Hyattsville is now accepting applications from vendors who trade in handmade arts and crafts interested in exhibiting at the new festival. All vendors must be approved by the city. If accepted, there'll be a $40 booth fee to pay. That fee gets you a 10 foot square patch of land to push your products onto the populace.

The Handmade on Hamilton festival is the reincarnated International Street Festival. This heritage is referenced in the new event's complete, official name; Handmade on Hamilton - An International Celebration of Craft, Music and Food. 

Handmade on Hamilton will be held on Nov. 3, 2012 from noon to 7 p.m. along Hamilton Street in West Hyattsville. City officials are expecting about 2,000 people to attend the festival, according to information contained in the vendor application.

After a 15 year run,  due to administrative issues, according to Abby Sandel, city communications director and acting director for the Department of Recreation and Arts. The idea of overhauling the International Street Festival into Handmade on Hamilton was Sandel's brainchild.

The from council members of Hyattsville's western wards,  

Then, earlier this year, Sandel's idea to overhaul the event into Handmade on Hamilton was also met with criticism from West Hyattsville's city council delegation. . 

A rundown of the music and entertainment already lined up for Handmade on Hamilton does include some international flair. A promotional webpage set up by the city for the festival hypes "cuisine from around the world" and lists an all-women Brazilian percussion band and a latin reggae rock ensemble among the entertainment options.