71st Anniversary in 2018
Summer Edition — July 20 – 22 | Fall Edition — October 19 – 21
Friday – Saturday: 10:00 to 6:00 pm; Sunday: 10:00 am to 5:00pm
Admission: $8.00; Children under 12 free
**Tickets available at the door.**
In its 71st year, the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands returns to downtown Asheville’s U.S. Cellular Center. Filling both the concourse and arena levels of the venue, craftspeople who are masters in their media will be exhibiting. The variety of craft that will be on display ranges from contemporary to traditional in works of clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, natural materials, paper, leather, mixed media, and jewelry. After a curation process of two juries, nearly 200 makers from the Southern Highland Craft Guild will carry on the legacy of these Fairs.
Both July and October hold seasonal editions of the exposition as this extraordinary marketplace offers visitors a unique opportunity to connect with artisans adept in their craft. The Summer Edition is July 20 through 22, and Fall is October 19 through 21. Downtown Asheville provides a robust experience for visitors, as the growing spectacular is representative of the creativity that flows in Western North Carolina.
As an avenue to provide a regional marketplaces for mountain craftspeople, the Fairs have since evolved to a popular epicenter of craft in the country. Alongside local residents is the expanding tourist population. In addition to retail, the Craft Fairs hosts demonstrations, supporting the Guild’s mission – to educate the public about the history of crafts in this region, various craft techniques, and an appreciation for fine crafts.
Collectors and gallery owners visit Asheville to experience and see the biannual shows in July and October, as they are a known destination for shopping and inspiration. Nearly 20,000 visitors to the Fairs each year invest in the regional and local economies while supporting craftsmen and women working in the Appalachian mountains.
Mountain musicians perform live on the arena stage starting Friday. Since the first Fair, 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.
Cultivating the crafts and makers of the Southern Highlands for the purpose of shared resources, education, marketing, and conservation.
The Southern Highland Craft Guild is a non-profit, educational organization established in 1930 with headquarters at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville, NC. The Guild region covers the mountain counties of nine southeastern states from Maryland to Alabama, representing over 900 craftspeople. The Craft Fairs are one of the ways in which the Guild fulfills its mission which is to bring together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, marketing and conservation. To learn more about Guild programs, visit www.craftguild.org.
