Handmade Gifts Galore at the San Mateo Harvest Festival

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, June 22, 2013 (Press-News.org) Get ready for a weekend of non-stop holiday shopping, entertainment and family fun as the largest indoor arts and crafts show on the West Coast invades the Peninsula.

The San Mateo Harvest Festival� Original Art and Craft Show will open at the San Mateo Event Center November 15-17, offering over 24,000 original arts and crafts. The Harvest Festivals boast thousands of various gifts for everyone, including jewelry, woodturnings, art and photography, specialty foods, clothing, d� cor and more.

There are over 250 artisans featured at the San Mateo Harvest Festival, and all of them are vetted by management to ensure products are all handmade in the United States. The juried process also ensures a rich mix and diversity of merchandise.

Attendees can meet the artists who created each item sand even get purchases personalized. Items available range from affordable $5 stocking stuffers to upscale, fine jewelry worth thousands of dollars. The Grand Prize, which will be awarded at the end of the show tour, is a beautiful Randy Polk designed ring and bracelet with Mother of Pearl, diamonds and orange sapphires, valued at over $5,000,

This year, the Harvest Festival has added new live entertainment, including performances from Beatles cover band The Hollywood Beetles as well as comedic routines from John Park and his "Funny Waiter" show.

The Peninsula Humane Society/SPCA is the selected charity of the show and will receive half of the proceeds from all shopping bags sold, as well as all the donations collected from the Parcel Check. They will also host a special mobile adoption on Saturday and Sunday.

Loaves and Fishes, a non-profit organization which serves free, nutritious meals to the working poor, families, homeless and seniors, will be the food donation partner for the show. Anyone who brings a monetary or non-perishable food donation to the show will receive $2 off their admission.

The KidZone, a specialized area for kids to participate in hands on crafting activities, will be sponsored by Gingerbread-on-the-Go and will offer gingerbread cookie decorating. Plus, New York Life will be on hand to offer free Child ID services.

Don't miss the chance to get a jump on your Holiday shopping in a fun and festive environment at the San Mateo Harvest Festival� Original Art and Craft Show.

What: The San Mateo Harvest Festival
When: November 15-17, 2013
Where: San Mateo Event Center (2495 South Delaware Street, San Mateo, CA 94403)
Hours: Friday and Saturday: 10 am �EUR" 6pm, Sunday: 10 am �EUR" 5pm
Tickets: Adults: $9, Seniors (62+): $7, Youth (13-17): $4, Kids 12 and Under: Free (Re-entry valid all weekend with proof of hand stamp)
Info: Call 415-447-3205 or visit http://www.harvestfestival.com
Press: Contact the Larose Group at 650-548-6700 or email Liz Rosinski at Lrosinski@prmagic.com

ABOUT THE HARVEST FESTIVAL ORIGINAL ART AND CRAFT SHOW� :
The Harvest Festivals began 41 years ago in San Francisco as a destination for artists and craftspeople to gather and have a forum to sell their handmade products. Today, the show has grown to encompass nine shows in the state of California and Nevada and still continues its tradition by only featuring handmade arts and crafts made in the United States. Each exhibitor is subject to a rigid jury process to be selected as a featured artisan, ensuring a rich diversity and high quality of all products sold. Attendees are able to directly interact with the artists, watch crafting demonstrations, and can get many gifts personalized. The Harvest Festivals, owned and managed by Western Exhibitors, are the largest indoor arts and crafts show of its kind on the West Coast.