Photos: Bell Buckle Craft Fair brings weekend of craft-filled fun

Photos by Tayhlor Stephenson / MTSU Sidelines

Bell Buckle, Tennessee, is known for its small-town, historic vibe, making it the perfect setting for some of the state’s most popular festivals, including the RC-Moon Pie Festival and the Bell Buckle Craft Fair, which hosted thousands of festival-goers this weekend.

At the Bell Buckle Craft Fair, it’s all about the unique finds and who you run into, because you’re bound to bump into someone you know.

“I think the craft fair is special because you get to see a lot of people in your community and their crafts that they worked so hard on for the year,” said Lacy Hampton, 23, of Shelbyville, Tennessee.

Hampton has attended the one-of-a-kind craft fair for as long as she can remember, but she’s not the only one.

Colleen Adcock of Unionville, Tennessee, is one of the creators of Hit n Miss Ice Cream, whose mission is to bring a sweet treat to the people of the craft fair. And like Hampton, Adcock has been attending Bell Buckle’s craft fair for years. Over the years she’s gotten to know and love not only the festival itself, but also neighboring vendors.

“As a vendor, I think you kind of have your own little family around where you set up,” Adcock said. “Plus, I think you can see things here that you don’t see anywhere else.”

Shellie Hochstetler of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is another Bell Buckle Craft Fair veteran, but this was her first year as a vendor for Cozy Willow, a wooden decor-focused business that she began with her daughter, Kris Wood, and Wood’s husband, Jeff, in August.

“We’ve been coming for like 15 years, when (Kris) was little — she was probably 10 when we started coming to it — so it was like, ‘Sounds like a good place to start with the holidays coming,'” Hochstetler said.

“We just have fun,” added Kris.

And that’s what the craft fair is all about: fun.

See a full gallery below.