On Saturday, April 30, Newtown Forest Association (NFA) will partner with Great Shift to bring a Spring Marketplace to the top of Holcombe Hill Preserve.

The event is scheduled from 10 am to 4 pm, with a rain date of Sunday, May 1. The preserve is at 55 Great Hill Road.

Entrance to the event is free and all guests will have the opportunity to shop with intention, perusing wares from over 15 local artisan vendors, such as handmade jewelry, upcycled fashion and thrifted treasures, art, pottery, woodwork crafts, locally grown provisions, and much more.

This will be a low-impact event, curated to minimize the amount of waste generated and reduce the impact on both the local and global environment.

The Marketplace will also feature a living wildflower installation, interactive painting exhibition, guided mindful outdoor experiences, prepared picnic lunches, and acoustic live music.

Five percent of vendor proceeds will be donated to NFA to help continue to preserve open space in the community.

Great Shift is a Connecticut-based creative event platform that hosts immersive workshops for the “creative-curious,” and curated marketplaces celebrating art, handmade goods, and locally grown provisions. Founder Carina Immer describes Great Shift as “the embodiment of the realization that we can learn meaningful crafts from our neighbors and source necessities directly from our local community.”

When asked about the partnership with the NFA, Immer said the NFA partnership is allowing Great Shift “to get involved in local conservation efforts. We hope that by hosting events like the Spring Market on the NFA’s land, we will not only help build community and celebrate local artists, but folks will grow a bigger appreciation for protected land.”

NFA is Connecticut’s oldest land trust and for nearly a century has been working to preserve open space in Newtown. Holcombe Hill is a pristine setting and will make for a beautiful and immersive experience for everyone attending the Spring Marketplace.

Visit greatshift.life/events or newtownforestassociation.org to learn more.