Derek Cadena and Brent Rodgers look like PBR-swilling rock dudes with their meticulously groomed facial hair, colorful hoodies and black-frame glasses.

But as romantic partners and owners of the Two Little Fruits Art Studio, they’re also vendors at Holiday ManCraft, the craft fair for guys that features everything from artisanal jerky and pickles to hand-crafted pinball machines, bowties, bath soaps and hunting knives.

“It’s a hip, trendy kind of crowd that comes in,” said Cadena, 41, who will set up shop at VFW Post 2461 on South Broadway this year. “You definitely see a range of people, but it’s a fun, younger kind of vibe than we get at a lot of craft fairs.”

Holiday ManCraft is deeply self-aware. With a heavy wink, organizers tout that it’s gone “ultra macho!” for its fourth installment by expanding to two nights: Dec. 5 in Denver and Dec. 6 at Boulder’s American Legion Post 10.

The first 50 people through the door receive a “man sack” with a drink ticket, ManCraft beer koozie and “other manly stuff.” Any of the folks running the 43 different tables are invited to participate in the “Vendor Whisker War,” which judges them for the best mustaches, beards and sideburns.

Beer and whiskey flow openly. Hugs and smiles accompany the masculine grunts and booming voices.

“We had so many people there last year that we’re hoping this will split the crowd a little bit,” said founder Stuart Alden, who along with wife Nicky owns Ink Lounge Creative studio. “Last year one guy said he sold more in a night than he did at multiple-day holiday markets. This has become their Black Friday.”

Two Little Fruits’ Cadena agreed. “It fantastic, just crazy busy. Last year it was super cold outside but there were still too many people to move inside.”

Cadena and Rodgers, who make wry, colorful wood block art with bacon-and-egg backgrounds and animal scenes, sold all of their $5 magnets and nearly five dozen of their 4×5½-inch works, which cost $25 per piece.

Thanks to the rise of the online crafting community — think Etsy and Pinterest — and hip, do-it-yourself craft groups around the country, Mancraft’s growth has accelerated beyond Alden’s expectations.

“Being graphic designers, we kind of have an eye for things that are more contemporary,” Alden said of the juried vendor-selection process. “At the same time we’re looking for things that are really different than at other similar types of craft fairs, like Horseshoe or Firefly or Renegade.”

The first Holiday ManCraft attracted 11 vendors to Ink Lounge’s studios in 2011. The second packed 17 vendors into Stranahan’s Colorado Whiskey distillery. Last year, the event featured 40 vendors — with another 40 turned away due to space restrictions.

“It’s something we struggled with this year,” Alden said. “We like meeting these folks and having a personal relationship with them. I don’t want this thing to ever be at the Convention Center. “

So what doesn’t belong at a ManCraft event?

“I won’t be bringing my body-care products,” said Gina Durham, who along with her husband Mark runs the all-natural company Naked Goat Farms, based in Elbert.

Mark makes $12 jars of jam and jelly from beers like Guinness, Fat Tire and Dale’s Pale that can be used as spreads, meat glazes or dipping sauces. Last year, he sold all 30 cases of his product and will more than double his inventory for 2014.

Everyone is welcome at ManCraft — not just guys. But Gina is attending this year for a different reason.

“Mark told me I have to come and help him bag up jars and run the credit cards,” she said. “We’re just trying to make enough of it in time for the event.”

John Wenzel: 303-954-1642, jwenzel@denverpost.com or twitter.com/johnwenzel

HOLIDAY MANCRAFT 2014. Eclectic, dude-centric craft fair. 4-10 p.m. Dec. 5 at VFW Post 2461, 1350 S. Broadway; 4-10 p.m. Dec. 6 at American Legion Post 10, 4760 28th St. in Boulder. Free. inkloungecreative. com.