Hestia Creations is holding a Dads and Donuts event on the first Saturday of every month through November.
On Saturday, tucked away on Hawkes Street, kids and their fathers enjoyed donuts and some time with pottery at Hestia Creations.
The paint-your-own-pottery studio at the business has been around since 2005, and the event recently resumed after the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It’s kind of a social hour for dads,” Hestia Creations owner Joanne D’Allesandro said.
D’Allesandro said that some dads do come in on a regular basis during the week, and that the event makes it easier for them to show up.
“I think it makes it a lot easier for them to come in knowing that there will be other dads there,” D’Allesandro said. “It’s a special event just for them.”
D’Allesandro said that dads love the event, and that she loves seeing the dads interact with the kids.
“It’s also good for the dads,” D’Allesandro said.
She noted that they “really get into it” with their kids, finding it to be relaxing.
D’Allesandro said that kids’ interest in the pottery studio varies.
“Some are done in 10 minutes, others are not done after two hours,” D’Allesandro said.
She added that she loves seeing the dads teach the kids how to paint their pieces.
The most popular item for kids has been miniature figurines, D’Allesandro said.
D’Allesandro said that Hestia has recently started doing classes at night as well.
Recently, at one of the sold-out night classes, attendees made platters with lobsters painted on them.
“People were calling and said, ‘Oh you’ve got to do it again,’” D’Allesandro said.
D’Allesandro said that Hestia is looking to continue classes and do more activities in the wintertime, adding that people often stop into the shop during the holiday season to put their children’s’ or pets’ foot, hand, or paw prints into clay as gifts.