Organizers are hoping that those who are weary from politics will now turn their minds to happier thoughts: Holiday shopping.

Buying locally and buying handmade are the hallmarks of a popular event that has been going on for more than 30 years now. The Local Artist Show and Holiday Sale will be held Friday and Saturday at the Lafayette Hotel in Marietta. The hours are 5 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

In the 1970s, a small group of area artists gathered for a studio show in Whipple. Now that group has grown to 26 artists featuring handmade glass, stained glass, wood turning, basket making, decorated gourds, calligraphy, pottery, ceramic tiles, painting, jewelry and terrariums.

“We try to keep the quality high so it’s basically a juried show,” said Sharon Hanse, who has organized the event for the past couple of years. “People don’t realize there are a lot of different levels of arts and crafts but we strive for a nice variety … there will be some very unique and interesting things that people can buy as gifts.”

Hanse, of Barnesville, operates Toucan Design and sells her award-winning calligraphy through her website and at fairs and art shows through the year. She is responsible for getting the artists together for this show and sometimes has a waiting list.

“Everybody likes the space and the artists do fairly well. That’s why people keep coming back,” she said.

Mike Trembly, owner of Earth Star Greenhouse & Gardens in Lowell and a member of Riverside Artists Gallery, said sales of his terraria gardens are good at the show.

“We will bring our full line of air plant terrariums and we usually do fairly well,” he said.

Trembly, who was part of the original group of artists to first present this show, also sells jewelry at Riverside Artists.

On Friday, some of his work will be available at the gallery when they host “Get Your Art On!” during the Merchants & Artist Walk in downtown Marietta from 6 to 9 p.m. The final Merchants & Artist Walk of the year will have more than 23 vendors and artists paired with more than a dozen merchants downtown. A handful of merchants will also host artwork created by Marietta City Schools and Veritas Classical Academy students in honor of National Community Foundation Week and Veterans Day.

If you go

What: Local Artist Show and Holiday Sale

When: Friday, 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where: Ballroom of the Lafayette Hotel, Front Street in Marietta.

Details: 26 local artists featuring paintings, sculpture, jewelry, mixed media, naturescapes, woodwork and much more. This event has been a tradition for more than 30 years.

Also this weekend

≤ Merchants & Artist Walk, downtown Marietta, Friday, 6 to 9 p.m.

≤ Get Your Art On!, Riverside Artists Gallery, Friday 6 to 9 p.m.

Participating artists:

Mary Ann Abbott – Jewelry

Ann Amash – Fiber Art

Claire Bogard – Paper treasures and portfolios

Sue Cadamagnani – Botanicals, dried flower art

Ann Chamberlain – Baskets

Steve Combs – Jewelry

Christa Devine – Jewelry

Keith Foster – Wood Carving

Dave Gustafson – Glass

Greta Hanesworth – Stained Glass

Sharon Hanse – Calligraphy

Tracee Hein – Ceramic Tiles

Jeremy Keler – Ceramics

Margaret Lazer – Pottery

Judy McKee – Paintings

Beth Nash – Paintings and art

Cathy Norosky – Painted Gourds

Zack Orcutt – Pottery

Melissa Rohrer – Pottery

Rita Schultheis – Painting

Susan Sherman – Pottery

Chris Smith – Hand Blown Glass

Ann & Mike Trembly – miniature gardens and more

Bruce Tuxhorn – wood turning

Steven Weber – stained glass

Janet Shila Wilson – photography and more