The early part of any new year is a good time to sit down and plan out which craft fairs you would like to apply to for the coming year. It is the slow season for crafters having just come off of the busy holiday season with a nice slide through Valentine’s Day.

But before you know it, Spring will be upon us and Summer will be just around the corner. Summer being the time of year that craft fairs seem to bloom (no pun intended.)

So where do you find out about the fairs that you should be applying to? Thanks to the folks over at Craftershock, you can easily look through their listings in the Indie Craft Fair Guide and find a fair near you. While not an extensive listing, it is a place to start.

Another place to check is with your local craft collective. These mafias, mutinies and groups usually put on local shows and are a great resource for other crafty purposes.

If you like your craft with some music, most summer music festivals host crafters and accept a variety of vendors. Bonnaroo, Virgin Fest and Austin City Limits Music Festival are just a few of the big ones. You can also peruse the Festival Network Online for names and dates of other festivals near you (for more detailed information they ask for a subscription.)

If you think your craft can walk the indie and more traditional craft line – Art Fair Calendar and Craft Site Directory are also good starting points. And don’t forget the American Craft Council, which has many shows throughout the year, as well.

No matter which fair(s) you intend to apply to, now is the time to map it out and work on your strategy. If you play your cards right, you could have a very busy and lucrative summer.