MT. VERNON, IL — Cedarhurst invites the southern Illinois community to part of the Grand Finale for the Cedarhurst Art and Craft Fair.

Museum staff have announced that 2025 will be the final year for the longtime fair, which was started in 1977 as one of the Mitchell Museum’s first major programs.

“We were one of the first craft fairs in the country, and it has been a core piece of the museum’s development and identity,” said Executive Director Hillary Esser. “It will be bittersweet to say goodbye to the fair, but our leadership team feels this is the right time.
“As culture shifts and Cedarhurst evolves, we will be re-allocating our resources to other areas moving forward – continuing to support the arts community and build affinity for our museum,” Esser said.

The Art and Craft Fair has been a key program at Cedarhurst for almost 50 years, helping to support artists across the nation, raises awareness of Mt. Vernon’s small-town museum, and create a noteworthy, arts-rich tourist attraction for southern Illinois.

Staff and volunteers are planning a grand farewell to send off the beloved fair and honor its place in museum history.

“We are excited to make this a celebration and hope that the community will turn out to support the final fair,” said Cheryl Settle, who serves as an Administrative Counselor volunteer for the museum and co-chair of the Art and Craft Fair committee. “So many of us have fond memories of the fair, and we want to give people a chance to visit one more time, share those memories, and just enjoy the beautiful experience that is the Cedarhurst Art and Craft Fair. There will be many special touches throughout the weekend.”

The 2025 Cedarhurst Art and Craft Fair is scheduled September 5-7, 2025. Visit cedarhurst.org or follow the museum’s social media platforms for the most up-to-date information.