Labor of Love Craft Show

You don’t have to pay to get in! This craft show is quite religious and a lot of the vendors here sell stuff with crosses and Christian influenced design on them but if you don’t mind that then this is your place to shop! They also sell food and a «popular» chocolate cake. Some of the vendors are a bit on the snooty side but there are also the really sweet ones who keep you coming back! They have volunteers who are mostly younger kids and elderly so it is nice to see them interacting and getting along. The parking is tricky because a lot of the spots are a bit tight but there is plenty of it so that’s a plus! Second day they closed at 4PM so get there early or they’ll close on you before you know it.

Quite a fun large crafts fair put on every year by Hillcrest Baptist Church on the last weekend of October. It’s free and it’s one of the earliest arts & crafts shows in the area, so you can get a jump on your holiday shopping.
Walking in any of the entrances, you will be greeted by a friendly older lady sitting at an information desk who will be happy to answer any questions and hand you a colorful booklet with maps, listing and locations of vendors, and the church’s ministries information.
Over 80 vendors’ booths fill the large and small rooms of this spacious church. Visitors are guided from one room to the next, along a well defined path. All kinds of vendors fill the rooms; unique jewelry makers, handsewn dresses, aprons, kitchen towels, home décor knick-​knacks, canned jellies and pickles, and Austin-​original items like birdfeeders made from colorful dishes. Some of the items’ styling is up-​to-​date; others are very traditional. Not everything is handmade, and there are a few resellers such as Tupperware, cosmetics, or The Pampered Chef, but they don’t overwhelm the feeling of the fair. This year I found cute travel pillowcases and wooden wall art. There’s likely something for everyone on your list here. Prices range from reasonable to a downright bargain.
In the center of the church is the gym which has several aisles of vendors as well as food for sale. Hillcrest has a large kitchen in the gym which is run by adults but cashiered by the youth group. «Margaret’s Chocolate Cake» here is LEGENDARY (with or without nuts). It’s a must have; the cake is moist, delicious and flavorful and it rivals any restaurant. You can pre-​order a whole cake on their restaurant. They also offer enchilada dinners (not so great), chicken croissant sandwiches and other foods. There’s a dining room set up around the corner. It’s a fun, family atmosphere.
The youth group also helps the vendors set up and tear down their booths. Well done, Hillcrest! They HAVE been operating for 24 years so they know how to do it.