In light of the recent impact of Hurricane Helene, we are prioritizing the safety and well-being of our community. As a result, all scheduled Guild activities and events are cancelled until further notice. Our shops are closed at this time. We are truly devastated for the people of this beautiful mountain region. Please stay tuned for ways you can support the community of Asheville and surrounding areas. We will keep you updated on the situation and will provide further information as it becomes available.
In the meantime, there are various places to donate to support the region in its recovery:
If you’d like to donate directly to the Guild:
Thank you for your understanding and support during this time. Stay safe! ❤️
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Overhead view of the Craft Fair Arena level
Visitor admiring Lucy's Toys
Pam Granger Gale's marbling demonstration
Musicians performing at the Craft Fair, 2022

CRAFT FAIR OF THE SOUTHERN HIGHLANDS

~Celebrating 77 years~

October 17-20

Show hours: Thursday-Sunday, 10am-5pm
Tickets: $12, children under 12 can enter for free.

Harrah’s Cherokee Center-Asheville

87 Haywood Street Asheville, NC

Questions? Call the Folk Art Center 828-298-7928 or email us [email protected].

Contact Harrah's Cherokee Center (828) 259-5736

Hosted in downtown Asheville at Harrah’s Cherokee Center, artisans will fill both the concourse and arena levels of the venue, exhibiting a variety of craft ranging from contemporary to traditional in works of clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, natural materials, paper, leather, mixed media, and jewelry. Join us for this unique shopping experience and enjoy live music and craft demonstrations during your visit. $12 tickets are available for individual days, at the door. Children under 12 are free.

History of the Craft Fair

Read a brief history about the Southern Highland Craft Guild and how it has elevated craft in the Apalachians since 1930. Written by the Guild's Director of Education, Janet Wiseman.

EXHIBITORS

Marti Mitchell A Touch of Glass
Kathryn Adams
Kimberley Adams
Larry Allen
Isaac Collins/Arrowmont
Rachel Elise Aughtry
Erica Stankwytch Bailey
Ashley Bangert
James Edward Barnes
Meghan Bernard
Travis Berning
Martha Biggar
Heidi Bleacher
Amy Brandenburg
Tavia Brown
Julie Calhoun-Roepnack
Brenda Cameron
Douglas Canivet
Linda Caristo
Beer Chunhaswasdikul
Bill & Pam Clark
Carol Clay
Ed & Kate Coleman
Andy Costine
Walt Cottingham
Lisa Banner/ Crossnore Weavers
Cadman & Cummins Studio
Doug Dacey
Rachelle Davis
Katelyn Day
Larry & Deborah Drake
Mark Ellis
Wendy & Joe Edwards
Lee Entrekin
Gina Eubank
Mark Eubank
Ilana Fiorenza
Lynn Fisher
Priscilla Frake
John Furches
Jim Gentry
Meredith Gottschalk
Pam Granger Gale
Alex Gray
Betsy Gray
Annie Grimes Williams
John Gunther
Cecilia Halverson
Alan Daigre
Brian Wurst/ Haywood Studios
Harry Hearne
Wren Hendrickson
Lynnette Hesser
Neal Howard

Susan McDonough

L. Jill Howell
Lucas Hundley
Linda Hynson
Thomas Irven
Ivan Ivanoff
Jason Janow
Erin Janow
Cat Jarosz
Jennifer Jenkins
Caroline Baxter/ John C. Campbell Folk School
Barbara Jones
Ray Jones
Tom Reardon/ Kathleen Doyle
Ilene Kay
Judi Jetson Local Cloth
Steve Loucks
Vicki Love
Lyn Lyndall
Greg Magruder
Joann Marie
Lynne Fiorenza/ Mark Traub
Jeff McKinley
Lisa Mergen
Summer Merritt
Melanie Miller
Marti Mocahbee
Susan Mulvey
Vickie Napoli
Karen Noggle
Stuart Nye Jewelry
Erich Orris
Jason Probstein
Janet Renfro
Audrey Laine Sawyer
Bonnie Scott
Frank Scott
Wendy Seaward
Cheryl Mackey Smith
Mike Sorge
Liz Spear
Susan Spies
Jude Stuecker
Desmond Suarez
Cindy Sugg
Marc Tickle
Mary Timmer
Vickie Vipperman
Florin Voicu
Joseph Waldroup
Emelie Weber Wade
Tamela Wells
Doc Welty
Bayley Wharton
Jessica White
Xee Yang
Noel Yovovich

CRAFT DEMOS

basketry, Carlson Tuttle, demonstration Carlson Tuttle making a Rugma Basket
Carlson Tuttle (broom making)
Martine House (fiber / beading)
Martine House (fiber / beading)
Gena Hopkins (beading) Sat & Sun in the Education Booth downstairs
Gena Hopkins (beading) Sat & Sun in the Education Booth downstairs
Jay Pfeil (etching) Thurs & Fri in the Education Booth downstairs
Jay Pfeil (etching) Thurs & Fri in the Education Booth downstairs
Sawing Challenge

Entertainment Schedule

October 19
11:00  Nobody's Darling String Band
12:30  Newfound Gap
2:00    Jonah Riddle and Carolina Express
3:30    Giddens Family Band

October 20
11:00  Janet Wiseman and Mountain Lights
12:30  Briar Branch
2:00    Buncombe Turnpike
3:30    Split Rail

Buncombe Turnpike
Buncombe Turnpike

Parking

The streets of Asheville will be bustling and parking can sometimes be problematic. In addition to Harrah’s Cherokee Center-Asheville’s parking garage below the building. For street parking, please utilize Asheville’s parking app for a real-time display of open parking spaces downtown. Asheville Parking App

On Saturday & Sunday, the following school parking lots will be empty for you to use:
Asheville Middle, Isaac Dickson, Montford North Star

Asheville Parking
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History

The Guild’s Craft Fair tradition started in 1948 in Gatlinburg, TN on the grounds of Arrowmont School of Arts & Crafts. At this inaugural fair, the Guild connected visitors with the most talented craftsmen and showed the importance of handicrafts in the life of southern Appalachia.

Today

Today, the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands is held twice every year (July & October) in downtown Asheville, North Carolina at Harrah’s Cherokee Center. It brings together hundreds of makers in what has become a key event for craft. These events are unique in that they offer attendees the opportunity to connect with the artists by purchasing directly from them. In an age of mass production and global imports, the connection to fine American craft and the individual maker is often lost but more significant than ever.

Carla & Greg Filipelli basketry
Carla & Greg Filipelli basketry
Audrey Lane Collection jewelry
Audrey Lane Collection jewelry

More than two hundred craftspeople fill two floors of the Civic Center twice each year. Local musicians play live on the arena stage; craft educators share their knowledge with adults and children alike through demonstrations and hands-on projects. Eleven thousand visitors from all over the country participate in festivities during the four days of the show. Over the course of the event, nearly a million dollars are invested in the purchase of crafts.

THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

ABOUT THE GUILD

For 93 years, the Southern Highland Craft Guild has curated a group of juried artisans for the purpose of marketing, education, shared resources, and conservation of Appalachian Craft. Our four retail locations in Western North Carolina sell the work of over 800 of our juried members.

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