The granddaddy of all such fairs, the annual American Craft Council Show, is going on this weekend in the Twin Cities. This year's offerings include fine arts and crafts from more than 240 exhibitors (40 of whom are new to the show this year).

The ACC Show is a national craft festival (the only one of its kind in the Midwest) that draws work from artists from all over the country, but it's also a fine opportunity to support local arts and craftspeople. More than 50 of this year's exhibiting artists live and work in Minnesota.

If you've never been before, Casey Selix's guided tour through last year's ACC Show (on MinnPost here) makes for a charming introduction to the festival.

At RiverCentre in downtown St. Paul Friday through Sunday, more than 10,000 visitors are expected to be on hand to browse through an abundance of contemporary fine craft — from handmade jewelry and colorfully woven textiles to fine-crafted pottery, intricate woodcarving, exquisitely fashioned furniture and cleverly designed eco-minded décor.

General admission to the American Craft Council Show will set you back $10 a person ($18 for a two-day pass, young children get in free). But once you're inside, you'll find a whole day's worth of activities in store, including workshops, demonstrations, raffles and kid-friendly craft fun.

The American Craft Council Show will be at St. Paul RiverCentre. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. General admission is $10 per person, free for children under 12. (Discounted admission of $5 is available for those attending after 5 pm on Friday.)