Aiken’s Makin’ brings in more vendors than ever for 48th year

AIKEN, S.C. (WRDW/WAGT) - Food, family and fun are all returning to Aiken this weekend, and you can attend for free.

Aiken’s Makin’ is officially back for the 48th year.

The big event is already alluding to more vendors which could mean more dollars for the local economy.

Vendors were out on Thursday for an hour getting set up and ready for Friday’s fun.

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“If you’re looking for some great craft to pick up for Christmas, birthdays, anniversaries, whatever, it’s a great event to do that,” said John McMichael, co-chair of Aiken’s Makin’.

The event is bringing in 230 vendors, nearly a third of them new to the festival this year.

“I think that if you don’t come, you’ll be sorry,” he said.

Traveling from up and down the East Coast, everything you purchase is handmade.

“All the crafters have to provide schematics and pictures of stages that they make the material that they put up for sale so we can know that they’re just not buying something off of the internet,” said McMichael.

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McMichael says the economic impact continues to grow.

“I know some of the hotels will be booked up because of Aiken’s Makin’ and the downtown merchants don’t suffer a bit, all the restaurants will be packed out,” he said.

The festival will offer a variety of unique crafts, and there’s something for everyone.

“Everything from metal works to woodwork to embroidery. I can’t even name all the different things,” said McMichael.

“For all the husbands out there, it is a great place to come grab your corn dog and sit down while your family or significant other is out there shopping,” he said.

If you are traveling to the event, it’s important to know that the eastbound inside lane of Park Avenue and the entire westbound lane will be closed from Union Street to Chesterfield starting at 6 p.m. on Friday and 5 p.m. on Saturday.