Southern Highland Craft Guild Shop Celebrates 70 Years on Tunnel Road
Live Craft Demonstrations and Refreshments Every Saturday in June

ASHEVILLE, NC — The Southern Highland Craft Guild is proud to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its Tunnel Road shop, a beloved fixture in East Asheville’s craft community since 1955. Formerly the headquarters of the Guild, this location has served as a vital hub for craft lovers for generations. In honor of this milestone, the Guild will host live craft demonstrations and complimentary refreshments every Saturday throughout the month of June.

Nestled just minutes from downtown Asheville and the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Tunnel Road shop has long served as a welcoming space for locals and visitors alike to discover fine handmade works created by regional Guild members. From pottery and woodwork to glass, textiles, jewelry, and more, the shop carries on the Guild’s mission of preserving and promoting traditional and contemporary Appalachian craft.

During these weekend celebrations, guests can enjoy special live demonstrations by Guild members including Heidi Bleacher (needle felting) June 7th, Charlie Patricolo (cloth doll making) June 14th, Karen Barnes (face jugs) June 21st, and Diana Gates (broom-making) June 28th. These interactive sessions offer a behind-the-scenes look at time-honored techniques and give visitors a chance to meet the artists behind the work.

In addition to being a vibrant retail space, the Tunnel Road location also serves as the home of the Guild’s online shop and the pickup location for online orders—making it easy for local supporters who want to shop online but not pay for shipping.

"Seventy years in the same location is a remarkable achievement; said shop manager Laura Spreitzer in fact, this is one of the oldest continuously-running retail shops in Asheville! We’re very excited to commemorate seven decades of Guild artists, employees, and the community members who have supported this small, neighborhood shop—and to invite new generations of craft lovers to celebrate with us this June!

The Southern Highland Craft Guild invites the public to stop by, enjoy refreshments, meet Guild artists, and experience the beauty and skill of live demonstrations each Saturday in June.

Location:
Southern Highland Craft Guild – Tunnel Road Shop
930 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805
Open Mon-Sat, 10AM–5PM

For more information and event updates, visit craftguild.org or follow @craftguild.tunnelroad on Instagram.