Shoppers invited to artisans’ exhibits Fair to feature wares, music, food

Shopping while indulging in chocolates and sipping a glass of wine? Sounds like a dream come true, really.

And shoppers can live the dream this weekend at the Arte Affaire in Calais. The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Downeast Heritage Center. Some of the region’s finest artisans will sell and discuss their wares, and visitors will have a chance to learn about the history of the St. Croix Valley through the heritage center’s exhibits.

This year’s vendor lineup includes Susan Designs, Shipyard Point Glassworks, Lion’s Paw Jewelry and Glass Art, Piecemaker, Connie’s Clay of Fundy, Rainmaker Soap, Tom Brennan Portraits and Paintings, Daylily Dyeworks, Things of Glass, Salt Meadow Studio and Gallery, Heather Perry Fine Jewelry, Done Roving Farm and Carding Mill, The Cat’s Eye Gallery, Passamaquoddy Arts & Crafts, and Jean Flahive, author of “Billy Boy, The Sunday Soldier of the 17th Maine.”

All of that browsing is enough to make one work up an appetite, which is why specialty food producers will be on hand, as well. Eugene Greenlaw of Bayside Chocolates, Steve Farrar of Done Roving Farm, Vinny Gartmayer of Bold Coast Smokehouse, Clayton Lank of Quoddy Mist Sea Salt, and Marilyn Bernardini of Bernardini’s Restaurant will serve up local fare with flair.

Live music by The Wallpaper Quartet and Woodsmoke will round out the mix.

Admission costs $3 per day. For information, call 454-7878 or visit www.downeast

heritage.org.