Fall has arrived and the festival season is underway. It’s time to buckle down and get ready for the upcoming holidays, chilly days, visiting friends and family gatherings. Downtown Shepherdstown is the perfect destination for shopping and get-togethers with a variety of unique independent and locally-owned shops, eateries and watering holes. And, don’t forget the monthly Shepherdstown Community Club 1st Weekend Handmade Market! Local and regional artists, artisans and crafters will again come together Oct. 3-4 at the War Memorial Building, 102 E. German Street to sell their quality handmade creations. The Handmade Market is open Saturday from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. There is always free admission.

Shop a variety of beautiful local art and handmade goods in this delightfully curated pop-up market. The featured makers for this weekend’s market are: Even Rose Love (exquisite hand-forged and formed metal and stone jewelry), Susan Carney (original art, monoprints, paintings, cards), Linda Slothower (felted purses, scarves, headbands), Legend Mountain (soft sculpture dolls, folk art and seasonal home dcor), Mud Peddler Studio (functional and whimsical pottery, home decor), Happy Cat Glass (stained glass panels, suncatchers and home decor) Nature’s Inspirations (statement jewelry made with fair-trade components) and Creative Art and Soul (dog leash holders, mixed-media wall plaques), Euterpe’s Pleasure (Saturday only; colorful and spirited original art, prints, malas), Liquid Fae Studio (Sunday only; original fantasy and fairy art, prints, boxes, feather earrings). For more information, visit the Shepherdstown Community Club Handmade Market Facebook page at facebook.com/SCCHandmadeMarket.

The Handmade Market is sponsored by the Shepherdstown Community Club (SCC), a non-profit community organization of men and women founded in 1945 (formerly known as the Men’s Club). Monies collected from sellers’ space fees go towards the maintenance and operation of the historic War Memorial Building, an important civic and community hub in downtown Shepherdstown, and the 21-acre public access Morgan’s Grove park.