The Next Chapter of Crop on the Cape 💙

Hi Creative Friends,

I can’t believe we are here celebrating 27 years of Crop on the Cape. Whether you’ve joined us for many, many years or this is one of your first, I think we can all agree this event is something truly special. I count down the days until we’re together, and once the weekend begins, I soak up every bit of the creative energy, laughter, hugs, and inspiration in the room.

As you might have heard, Cape Cod Irish Village has sold this building – including the hotel and event space we use. Over the years, I’ve shared that there really isn’t another function space on Cape Cod large enough to hold all of us the way this one has.

So yes… this brings about a big change.

But here’s what I know for sure:

Crop on the Cape is NOT ending.

In fact, this feels like the perfect moment to thoughtfully re-envision it into the event we truly want it to be moving forward.

I have secured space for March 18-21, 2027 at the Seacrest Resort in North Falmouth – which is actually where Crop on the Cape began back in 1999. 💙

Now, I do need to be honest with you. The ballroom there is not the same size as the one we’ve been in. That means we simply won’t have space to host everyone who is here with us this weekend. There is no way around that – and that part absolutely breaks my heart.

But I am a cup-half-full kind of girl.

Instead of focusing on what we’re losing, I want to focus on what we can build.

This is our opportunity to create something intentional, organized, energizing, and perfectly tailored to what YOU love most about this event.

⸻

One change you can expect is that the event will be renamed so it better reflects all types of crafters, not just “croppers.” But I promise you this: even with a new name and a new space, the heart of this event – the creativity, the connections, the community – will remain.

This community has never been defined by a ballroom.

It is defined by us.

No matter what, we will always find ways to stay creatively connected. I host the Creative Journey Art Retreat in the fall, offer online classes and events throughout the year, and share inspiration regularly on YouTube and here on my website.

Change can be bittersweet.

But it can also be exciting.

And I truly believe we have the opportunity to shape the next chapter into something incredible.

Thank you for being part of this journey – for 27 years and counting. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts and dream this next version together.

With gratitude,
Jenn 💙

We really appreciate everyone who has taken the time to respond to the survey so far. Your feedback is incredibly helpful as we plan for the future of the event. We’ve gathered some of the common questions and suggestions we’ve received and wanted to address them below. We will continue to update this section as needed as more feedback comes in.

“I understand they sold the hotel, aren’t they still going to be a hotel? Won’t the new owners have the venue as it is now?”

No, the space will no longer operate as a hotel or conference center. The property was purchased by Riverview School and will become part of their campus, which means the event space as we know it will no longer be available.

“I love the assigned seating!”

I’m so glad you love the assigned seating! We will continue assigned seating at the new venue. When registration opens, we’ll ask for your seating requests. Our biggest priority is always making sure you’re sitting with your friends, and then we do our best to accommodate other requests as possible.

“My top request would be to have more table space but from the sound of the new venue it seems that will not be manageable.”

When planning seating, we are somewhat limited by the table sizes the venue has available. At the Seacrest next year, everyone will have 6 feet of table space, and there will be four tables per group, which should give everyone a nice amount of room to spread out and craft.

“I wish that registration was open to prior year participants first”

This has been a request for many years. While we’ve always agreed it would be a nice benefit, we’ve struggled with determining the fairest way to implement it. Crop on the Cape has had three different organizers over the years, and unfortunately, we don’t have complete attendee records going all the way back to when the event began in 1999. Because of that, it never felt fair to simply jump in and start offering priority registration.

However, with the upcoming venue change and a new chapter for the event (including a new name coming soon!), this feels like the right time to begin. Attendees who join us for Crop on the Cape in March 2026 will be considered “alumni” and will receive advanced registration for our event in March 2027.

This approach feels like the fairest and most natural way to start this new tradition.

“I personally would love a breakfast. And Beverages offered as part of the event. Dinner and lunch require too many choices with food allergies.”

One of the great things about the Seacrest is that they offer several convenient food options right on site. In addition to their restaurants, they also have a marketplace that’s open throughout the day. Inside the marketplace is a coffee shop along with grab-and-go snacks and light options, making it easy to pick up breakfast, coffee, or a quick bite whenever you need it. This gives everyone flexibility to choose what works best for them and their dietary needs.

“Perhaps having a list of restaurants that will deliver food to the resort available or posted would be helpful.”
“I don’t think I’d want to pay $250 extra for food made by the hotel.”
“Food trucks on-site are a great idea.”
“Coffee, juice, water, and snacks would be great.”

We completely understand the feedback about the cost of food. Unfortunately, the pricing we shared reflects the hotel’s required food & beverage minimum, along with the additional service costs they include. Because of that, we wanted to gauge interest first before making any big decisions. It has also been many years since meals were included as part of this event, so we weren’t sure how attendees felt about bringing that option back.

As part of our contract with the hotel, we are not allowed to have food trucks onsite or bring in outside catering. This is a very common requirement for most hotels and event venues.

We will continue to provide water stations in the ballroom throughout the event, as we always have. Over the years, many attendees have gotten used to bringing their own favorite snacks to share among friends, and that has worked out really well.

Providing coffee all day through the hotel is actually quite expensive (currently $65 per container), which makes it difficult to offer continuously. However, we do provide coffee and tea during the dessert socials. And as mentioned above, the Seacrest has a coffee shop on-site.

If we decide not to include meals as part of the weekend package, we will absolutely provide a list of nearby restaurants and delivery options so everyone can easily plan what works best for them.

“I know the venue is smaller so would you consider doing two weekends, maybe back to back, so more people would be able to come? (150 + 150)”

We’ve received this suggestion a few times over the years, especially in the years when the event sold out quickly. At first glance, it might seem like a good solution, but when you really look at the logistics, it just isn’t feasible.

For one, we would need to completely set up and break down the event twice. The event space is used for other functions during the week, so we wouldn’t be able to leave everything set up between weekends.

As the organizer, I rent a U-Haul and move all of the event supplies from my home to the venue for setup. My Creative Crew (friends who help run the event) also take time off from their regular jobs to help with setup and the weekend itself. Asking everyone to commit to two full weekends, plus double the setup and breakdown, would be a lot.

Our vendors would also face similar challenges. For example, Papercraft Clubhouse runs a brick-and-mortar store, so it wouldn’t be realistic for them to keep all of their merchandise packed up for a week in between events and miss out on sales in their shop.

We’ve also been very fortunate to hold this event on the same weekend for many years. The weekends before and after are often already booked with other events at the venue.

Unfortunately, these are just some of the reasons why hosting two back-to-back weekends isn’t a feasible option.

“Consider doing a 2nd crop mid-summer or early fall.”

Hosting an event mid-summer on Cape Cod would be extremely expensive. That is peak season here, with weddings and other events that are willing to pay much higher venue rates, which makes it very difficult to secure affordable space.

And to be completely honest, I also look forward to enjoying the outdoors during the summer months on the Cape. After spending so much time indoors planning and running events the rest of the year, I really value that time.

I also already host my Creative Journey Art Retreat in the fall. While it is a different type of event than Crop on the Cape, it requires just as much time to organize and prepare for.

Creative Chick Co. is my full-time business, and while I have wonderful help during my events, I am still a business of one. There are only so many hours in the day, and I’m sure many of you can relate to that.

“I miss the different scrapbooking classes. There were classes that were cancelled a few years ago and never came back. In honest the price of some of the classes seem a little expensive for what we are being taught, so instead I shop. I wish there were more affordable.”

After each event, I ask attendees what types of classes they would like to see in the future, and scrapbooking is always mentioned. However, when scrapbooking classes are actually offered, they tend to have the lowest enrollment. Because of that, it can be difficult for teachers to invest the time and energy into designing those classes when the turnout hasn’t been strong.

As for class pricing, I have shared with teachers that attendees are interested in more affordable class options. That feedback has been mentioned in the past as well, and I know teachers do their best to keep that in mind. Ultimately, teachers set their own prices, and there are many factors that go into that decision—the time and skill it takes to design the projects, the materials included, and the time required to prep all of the class kits.

If you have favorite teachers who regularly teach at the event, I would encourage you to share your feedback with them as well. Hearing directly from attendees can help them better understand what people are hoping to see in future classes.

“Would you allow one person to register for a group like you have done the last two years? That was helpful for my group to get seats.”

Yes! Registration will work the same way, and we actually prefer when one person registers for their group. This helps ensure that everyone in your group secures a seat together, and it also makes things much easier for us when we are creating the seating chart—which we appreciate so much.

“Bring back the free table! Make limitations, ask for volunteers to help manage it, etc.”

Over the past few years, despite repeated requests not to bring bags and boxes of supplies, that’s unfortunately what the free table turned into. The free table was never intended to be a full craft-room clean-out station. It was meant for small items you discovered during the event that you no longer wanted and thought someone else might enjoy.

With all of the changes to the size of the space, our main focus now is making sure we can comfortably fit as many crafters as possible and continue to offer the other perks that everyone has grown to love, like vendors and classes. Because of those priorities and space limitations, bringing the free table back just isn’t something we can accommodate.

“With most women that are scrapping being a little older and some having back issues, is there a way to get a local Boy Scout troop to come and help load and unload?”

In the past, we have offered assistance from members of our Creative Crew to help attendees unload their supplies, although we aren’t often taken up on that offer. We are always happy to help move your supplies in, just check in with one of the Creative Crew members at the registration desk.

Right when registration first opens tends to be the most hectic time, but once things settle down a bit we are more than happy to lend a hand.

“It would be wonderful if you could ever get Prima Marketing as a vendor or Ranger, etc.”

Papercraft Clubhouse carries products from both of these companies. While they can’t bring their entire store to the event, they do their best to bring a good variety of products with them.

If there are specific items you would like them to have available, you can always reach out to them ahead of time. You can even place an order on their website, choose “local pickup,” and include a note in the order asking them to bring it to the event.

We have also had teachers feature Ranger products and techniques in classes many times. Cheiron Brandon, for example, often offers classes that highlight Ranger products and techniques.

“Are there any spots off the Cape to hold this?”

One tradition I really don’t want to change is hosting the event on Cape Cod. I’ve lived here for over 20 years, and since it’s my home, I truly love sharing the beauty of the Cape with all of you. That’s part of why I’m especially excited about hosting the event at the Seacrest, we’ll actually be able to see the ocean each day during the event.

People travel in from all over North America to attend, and I think having the event on Cape Cod makes it feel extra special. I’m also passionate about supporting local Cape businesses, and since March is a quieter time of year here, I know they really appreciate the visitors our event brings.

Over the years, Cape Cod has naturally become part of the heart and personality of this event, and honestly part of my brand as well. It just wouldn’t feel the same hosting it anywhere else.