50th event & 20 years of creative excellence! 1988: The Planning and promotion was complete. The stage was set. And now,would anyone come?... and come they did, in droves! I still remember, anxiously waiting on that bitter cold morning of October 28th, expecting 10,000 but receiving 18,000 visitors. The first Creative Sewing and Needlework Festival was born. Since that very first Festival covering 45,000 sq ft with 102 companies participating, we have taken the Festival to Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Halifax. Today, in Toronto we have grown to cover 200,000 sq ft with 700 exhibits, added a 5-day world-class conference and offer hundreds of free show floor activities. Re-branded last year to simply... Creativ Festival, we continue to attract seasoned pros looking to expand their skills while reaching out to curious newbies, inviting them to experience creativity and the self-satisfaction of doing-it or crafting-it themselves. And to celebrate this milestone, we’ve redesigned the show floor... creating mini shows within the show with more exhibitions and galleries for inspiration. Hundreds of artists, designers and industry experts along with tens of thousands of creative individuals converge on Toronto to share expertise or pick up tips, trends and supplies.They come from as far away as Japan, Australia, Belgium, England, South Africa, just about every state in the USA and Canadians from coast to coast. At this time of celebration, I would personally like to thank each and every one who has participated, exhibited, supported and visited our events during the past 19 years. And, those of you who keep coming back, helping to keep creativity alive! Come, be part of our interactive creative experience like no other! With sewww much to see and do, you’ll find one day just isn’t enough! – Rita Gramsch President & Founder