As a former City Paper writer, a frequent Crafty Bastards juror, and an especial admirer of zombies, squids, and other iconographic staples of the Etsyverse, I am what you call a Big Fan of the Crafty Bastards fair. I love watching bboying and wouldn’t mind one iota if it were a regular feature of every party I attended. Ben Claassen III is one of the District’s most valuable resources and any year I can’t see his stuff is a bad one. Plus there’s all the craft!

Senior editor Ian Buckwalter and ‘ist photographer Holly Le were among the hundreds (thousands!) who hit up the fair and they share with you some snaps that will make you sore you didn’t come out if you didn’t attend.