“GIRLS, THIS IS ONE CRAFTY TREE.” Eau Claire’s Holidaze Arts Festival, held annually at the Ramada Convention Center in downtown Eau Claire.

The holiday season has always been about giving. And, sure, the hullabaloo around Black Friday makes it seem like that giving consists mainly of TVs and video games and gift cards, but long before Black Friday overtook the weekend arts and crafts fairs have played an important part in the holiday season – and they’re not going anywhere. Handfuls of craft fairs are being held around the Chippewa Valley over the next few weeks with a wide range of organizers and audiences.

And while everyone may have their preconceptions of dusty church basements with oddly shaped knitted coozies, many of the arts and crafts fairs in the area offer a variety of artists with everything from gorgeously crafted jewelry, mosaic wall art, glasswork and plenty more. In a quick walk through the Holidaze Art Fair at the downtown Ramada in Eau Claire you’d find wooden signs from Sawdust City Signs, mittens from Northland Woolens and pottery from Sow Ceramics.

Around the corner there’s metal sculptures from Matt’s Metal Works, CDs from The Packer Party and various repurposed vinyl records from The Urban Ware. Holidaze in all had right around 50 artists from the region selling their wares.

And the mood is anything but dusty. The room was bustling with hundreds of shoppers and holiday music on the stereo. Of course the decorations were in full force, with trees and bows adding to the gift-giving atmosphere.

The various sales around the area cater to all levels of gift giving for others (or yourself). Many have a wide range of homemade crafts to fine art, almost all created by local artists and craftsmen and are held all over the area in high schools, libraries, art galleries and, yes, churches.

The arts and crafts that are the namesakes of many of these fairs are only a part, though. Most have food and treats for hungry and festive shoppers (look to the 4-H Club’s Cookie Walk if you have a sweet tooth). And I can guarantee, there’s never a shortage of popcorn. Others have live music or other activities.

And sure, the holidays are a time for gift-giving, but also a time for just some down-home, old-fashioned, quality family which is what makes the arts and craft fairs such a perfect holiday outing with a little something for everyone.