On November 14 and 15, the Boulder Elks Lodge at 3975 28th Street hosts the 50th Boulder Mountain Handmade, open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The market is run by the Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District Auxiliary. The booth rentals, the resident-made gift shop and the bake sale all pay for equipment and provisions for the district's emergency responders.
You'll find the event on 28th Street, a few miles from Pine Brook Hills. But it began in Pine Brook Hills and still belongs to it. In the early 1970s it was a small arts and crafts fair held in the neighborhood. In 2014 the Auxiliary moved it to Boulder to make it bigger, according to the Daily Camera. Moving down the hill gave the fair room to grow. The money still goes back up to Station 1 at 1905 Linden Drive.
From a Neighborhood Fair to 28th Street
Pine Brook Hills residents will recognize the fair's old name. In 2015 the HOA's Pine Brook Press was still telling its origin story as the Pine Brook Hills Arts and Crafts Show. That autumn's issue placed the November 7 and 8 market at Watershed School, 1661 Alpine Ave., "just a few blocks east of Broadway and Community Plaza." It called that its second year in town and listed "over 40 area artists."
Every count since then has been higher:
| Year | Market | What the coverage reported |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Second year in town, at Watershed School | Over 40 area artists |
| 2022 | First market back after the COVID interruption | More than 60 vendors and food purveyors |
| 2023 | 47th market, at the Elks Lodge | Over 50 crafters, with a $30,000 to $35,000 fundraising goal |
| 2025 | 49th market, Nov. 8–9 | 57 artisans |
| 2026 | 50th market, Nov. 14–15 | Roster posted on the district's site |
The numbering runs a little behind the calendar. A fair that started in the early 1970s would have held more than 50 markets by now without the COVID pause. Those lost years are why this November is the 50th. One announcement on the district's site describes it as a "49-year festival."
The bigger room has also built a following. "A third of our customers are returning customers, and there are people we see year after year," Ann Blonston, the market's outreach coordinator, told the Daily Camera in 2023. "For a lot of our customers, it is part of their fall."
Where the Money Goes Back Up Linden Drive
The Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District serves about 1,000 homes and answers around 150 calls a year. Most of its emergency responders are volunteers, and it lists more than 50 volunteer firefighters and medics. A fire chief, a professional mitigation crew, the Auxiliary and a board round out the district, according to its About page. The district has three stations:
- Station 1 and the main office, 1905 Linden Drive
- Station 2, 50 Overlook Lane
- Station 3, 3128 Carriage Hills Drive
The Auxiliary lists Pine Brook Hills, Boulder Heights, Carriage Hills, Wagonwheel Gap, Buckingham Hills, Rembrandt, Glendale Gulch and Valley Lane among the neighborhoods it serves. It describes itself as a group of non-emergency volunteers who connect community support with the responders. It raises money, supplies responders in the field, runs outreach and education, and supports recognition programs.
In 2023, District Chief John Benson told the Daily Camera that Auxiliary money has helped buy thermal imaging cameras, vehicle extrication equipment and breathing apparatus. It also pays for something smaller that matters on long calls:
"When we're out there working for long periods of time, we're expending a lot of calories. To just make one phone call and know that we will get food and drink in a short period of time keeps our firefighters going."
"It's those extra funds that we can use, basically, in a moment's notice," Benson added. This year's market page describes the spending in general terms, as equipment and provisions, and doesn't list specific purchases.
Two Tables Still Stocked by Foothills Neighbors
The fair left the neighborhood, but two of its tables are still made up the hill. They hold the most Pine Brook Hills of anything in the room.
Boulder Mountain Creates is the market's gift shop. It sells handmade gifts made by Auxiliary members and foothills residents, and all proceeds support the volunteer firefighters. Back in 2015, the Pine Brook Press called these "limited-edition crafts created by district residents."
Boulder Mountain Bakes is a scratch bake sale run by residents. It sells cookies, bars, cakes, pies, breads, confections and gluten-free treats, and every dollar goes to the volunteer firefighters. The Auxiliary isn't modest about it. The 2015 newsletter promised "Boulder's best bake sale."
The rest of the money comes from booth rentals, so the outside artisans help fund the district too. As the market has drawn more makers from around the region, each new booth adds to that share.
The 2026 Roster, Sorted by What's on Your List
The district has posted this year's artists in the market. Here's a sample from the roster, grouped by what you might be shopping for:
- Jewelry. When Dragons Fly Design, Linda Parks Jewelry, Sanitas Designs for sterling pieces, and Ammonite for bead-woven work.
- Edible gifts. Audacious Truffles, Moksha Chocolate, Cajun Mountain Creations for pickles, and Beth's Bees for specialty honey.
- Candles, soap and body care. Amberlights Candles in beeswax, Conifer Candle Company in soy, Boulder Valley Soaps, Beth's Bees beeswax soap and candles, and Red Rose Organics botanicals.
- Fiber, textiles and leather. New Moon Farms dyed fiber and yarns, Sharon Schatz Design fiber arts, Klever Creations quilted and crocheted toys, Ruby and Lou leather bags, and upcycled pieces from Beque Textiles and Circular Threads.
- Things for the walls and the table. Spirits of the Rock carved ceramics, Creative Fused Glass, The Sage Leaf Studio paintings and prints, Jen G Studios printmaking, and Wild and Flower Studio.
- Paper goods for the holiday card list. Sweet Letterpress and Whimsicals Paperie.
Blue Monocle, Tiger Lily Crafts, DK Originals, Golden Gal Art and Rejuvenated Remnants are on the list too. One name fits the neighborhood especially well. Sanitas Designs shares its name with the peak at the bottom of Sunshine Canyon.
Planning the Weekend
The district's activities page lists free drawings, community art-making and performances. It also mentions a raffle, fire-safety information, fire-engine tours, children's helmets and activity bags, and a cafe inside the Elks Lodge. The volunteers who give the engine tours are the same ones the money supports. The Daily Camera reported in 2023 that volunteer firefighters lead the tours.
As of October 10, the page doesn't name this year's performers or post a schedule, so check it again closer to the weekend. The shared art project changes each year. In 2023 guests made a tissue-paper poppy garland, and sections went to American Legion Post 32 and the Veterans Community Project in Longmont. To join the Auxiliary's mailing list, email [email protected].
The quickest route from Pine Brook Hills is down Linden Drive and across North Boulder to 28th Street. The doors open at 10 a.m. Saturday, November 14.
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