Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands

July 18 - 21, 2013
October 17 - 20, 2013
US Cellular Center (formerly the Asheville Civic Center)
87 Haywood St, Asheville, NC
Thursday - Saturday:  10am to 6pm; Sunday: 10am to 5pm
Admission: $8; Children under 12 free
828-298-7928

Join us for the 66th Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville, NC,
July 18 – 21 and October 17 – 20, 2013.  Nearly 200 juried artists of the Southern Highland Craft Guild will be selling works of clay, metal, wood, jewelry, fiber, paper, natural materials, leather and mixed media.  With styles ranging from traditional to contemporary, the Fairs showcase the rich talent, diversity and craft mastery of Guild members.     

The Craft Fairs have a proud tradition and history of excellence by representing the Southern Highland Craft Guild, a non-profit organization formed in 1930.  The Fairs began in 1948 as a way to provide a regional market for the mountain craftspeople.  Since that time, the Craft Fairs have set the standard for fine craft shows across the country.  Each year in July and October craft collectors and gallery owners from across the country come to Asheville to see the show.  They are joined by western North Carolina residents who appreciate the quality and history of the show, knowing it is an ideal destination for shopping and inspiration.  Nearly 20,000 visitors to the Fairs each year invest in the regional and local economies while supporting artists working in the Appalachian mountains, and by spending a summer or fall weekend in beautiful Asheville, NC.     

In addition to providing a retail market for juried members, the Guild also hosts craft demonstrations during the Fairs.  A strong part of the Guild’s mission is to educate the public about the history of crafts in this region, various craft techniques, and an appreciation for fine crafts.  Visitors have the opportunity to see artists using traditional methods of handmade craft like George McCollum weaving a white oak basket, beginning with splints he has harvested from the tree, or seeing Sam Johnson make bamboo fly rods, or Betsy Morrill’s innovative deconstructed screen-printing on fabric.  Visit www.craftguild.org for a complete list of scheduled craft demonstrations.

Beginning on Friday during each Craft Fair, mountain musicians perform live on the arena stage.  Since the first fair in Gatlinburg in 1948, the music of the area has been woven into the fabric of the Craft Fair experience.  From old time to bluegrass, this tradition is kept alive today.  Visit www.craftguild.org for a complete list of performances.

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