PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
 The Folk Art Center

[email protected] | 828-298-7928

Pop-up Mini Craft Fairs at the Folk Art Center


Asheville, NC – April 12, 2026

The Southern Highland Craft Guild invites the public to its fifth-annual Pop-up Mini Craft Fairs, returning this spring to the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. These intimate outdoor markets will take place on Saturday, May 2 and Saturday, June 6, 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM, in the lower-level parking area.

Each event features a rotating group of Guild member artists, offering visitors a chance to shop directly from makers representing the finest in regional craft. With twenty-five booths at each fair, attendees can explore a wide range of handmade work including ceramics, wood, fiber, glass, metal, and more.

What to Expect:

• Rotating Artists: Each fair features a different lineup—attend both dates for a new experience.

• Handmade Excellence: Shop juried work across multiple craft disciplines, all made by Guild members.

• Free & Accessible: Open to the public with free admission at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Located at Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Folk Art Center is home to the Southern Highland Craft Guild and features three galleries, a craft shop, a library, and a Blue Ridge Parkway information desk and bookstore. Visitors are encouraged to explore the Center before or after the fair to experience even more of the region’s rich craft heritage.

Artists participating include: Amy Brandenburg, Dahlia Bushwick, Noel Yovovich, Walt Cottingham, David Grant, May Wake, Amy Pike, Steven Ramsey, Cecilia Haverson,  Pamela Clark,  Lisa Bester, Melanie Miller, Aaron Iaquinto, Fatie Atkinson, Darryl Malice, Nina Kara, Ann Barton, Leslie Fawcett, Sharia Kaufman, Ashley Bangert, and more!

About the Southern Highland Craft Guild


Founded in 1930, the Southern Highland Craft Guild is a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to cultivating craft, supporting artisans, and preserving handmade traditions in the Southern Highlands. Representing over 800 makers across nine southeastern states, the Guild connects audiences with the work of skilled craftspeople through exhibitions, events, and retail experiences. The Guild is an authorized concessioner of the National Park Service, Department of the Interior.