Guest blog - Craft Festival Bovey Tracey

Discover exceptional creativity at the Craft Festival Bovey Tracey this June.

Set on the edge of Dartmoor, and just a short drive from Exeter, this much-loved event brings together talented makers, hands-on workshops, live demonstrations, and great food. It’s the perfect day out to explore contemporary craft and soak up a vibrant, creative atmosphere.

In the build-up to this year's event, we got chatting to the event organiser to find out all about this popular festival.

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Sarah James and I have run Craft Festival Bovey Tracey since 2004. I live in Bovey Tracey, on the edge of Dartmoor, in a terraced Victorian House with my husband Andy and border terriers, Bobby and Lola. I have 3 grown up children. My daughter, Ella is a Secondary School Teacher in Torquay and my son, Lewi is a teaching assistant in Cardiff. My stepson, Mike is a technician in a secondary school in Exeter. He’s also studying to be a teacher!  They are great people. I also have 2 lovely grandchildren, Lenny and Senan who live in Exmouth. Love those boys. 

Please tell us more about Craft Festival Bovey Tracey?

Craft Festival Bovey Tracey takes place from Friday 12 – Sunday 14 June and this year we celebrate 22 years. 

Every year, Mill Marsh Park in Bovey Tracey transforms into a vibrant village of marquees, makers, and music. For many, the pilgrimage to Bovey for Craft Festival is an annual treat. Dubbed The Glastonbury of Craft, the welcoming atmosphere, the anticipation of seeing something new, and the gathering of like-minded friends is irresistible.  The festival has grown from a small local idea into one of the UK’s most respected and beloved craft events. Since its founding in 2004, it has welcomed more than 160,000 visitors, contributed millions to the local economy, and built a reputation for championing outstanding making in a warm, welcoming festival atmosphere.

Visitors can enjoy workshops, watch and learn from amazing demonstrations, listen to great talks, watch films in our solar powered cinema as well as let children run free in the Craft Club with workshops, stories, circus skills, and performances. Add in fantastic food and lots of great live music, and you have a vibrant weekend, packed with making, ideas, conversation, and heartwarming community. 

What was the inspiration behind setting up the event? 

I wanted to put together a high-quality event that appealed to the craft obsessed but also to make making accessible to all ages and backgrounds. In our first year, I had 2 very young children, my daughter Ella was 3 and Lewi was 6 months old.  I wanted an event that I would want to visit with children. I was told it wouldn’t work, but it did and still does. We’ve added lots of fun and games over the years which turned it from a Craft Fair into a Craft Festival. 

How has it grown / changed over the years and what have been the greatest challenges along the way?

It has grown steadily. The demand for great craft continues to grow. Finding enough parking was an issue a few years ago. We have great support from the people of Bovey, and a local landowner lets us use a field near to Mill Marsh Park. Now we have oodles of space for everyone. 

What are your personal favourite parts of the festival? What makes you smile as you walk through?

I’ve been running Craft Festival for so many years, and I never tire of it. The opportunity to bring so many inspiring people together is such a privilege. One of my favourite places is The Craft Club, where we host free craft activities for children and families. The energy jumps out at you and shows that children love and need making. It is so important to provide opportunities to learn through play and making. The children are engrossed and excited. And that makes me incredibly happy.

Have you got any specific memories of anything that has stood out for you from the festivals over the years?

I loved that we did a live version of the Great Pottery Throwdown. It was great fun and introduced a lot of people to clay. The programme has opened ceramics up to a huge number of people. I love meeting people and hearing their stories.

What are you looking forward to most at Craft Festival Bovey Tracey 2026?

I love meeting makers that are new to us. We invest a lot of time travelling the country, going to other shows and universities, encouraging new makers to join us in Devon. This year, we are being joined by Dr James Fox who will be talking about his highly acclaimed book, Craft Land. I’m really looking forward to that.  And as mentioned, I get a huge amount of joy from seeing fun and creativity in The Craft Club. It’s very important to me that children and families feel welcome.