(Shire Post Mint)Shire Post Mint will host its second annual Shire Fest this month with local craft vendors, performances, games and more.
The coin-making company operates a workshop and retail space at its headquarters at 52 W. Main St. in West Fork. It’s about a 15-minute drive from the Fayetteville downtown square.
The free event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 (organizers rescheduled the event due to the weather forecast).
Vendors will have specialty goods for sale, including clothes, books, jewelry, beauty and wellness products, leather, candles, gaming accessories, arts and crafts. Performances, games, and activities are scheduled throughout the day, along with food and drink vendors.
An all-ages costume contest is also planned (see rules here), and all are welcomed to attend in costume.
Aside from outside vendors, the indoor retail shop offers a variety of hand-crafted coins, from favorites like The Lord of the Rings and A Game of Thrones to specialty in-house designs like Moon Coins, breakable Pizza Coins, and Tooth Fairy Coins.
Helen Maringer, CEO of Shire Post, said about 500 people attended the inaugural event in 2022.
“We are excited to build on our success from last year and have an even bigger event this year,” said Maringer.
Shire Post Mint began in 2001 when Tom Maringer bought his first antique coin press. His techniques of hand-engraving steel dies and pressing one at a time were used in the 1800s and earlier. He worked with George R.R. Martin to make custom coins from his series A Song of Ice and Fire, and has since grown the mint into an internationally-recognized company.
