NC Holiday Events: Asheville Celebrates with Chocolate and Crafts

December 8  Asheville Chocolate and Arts Festival   A multicultural arts event featuring performers, musicians and dancers from Asheville and beyond. Experience local artisans, baskets and basket weaving demonstrations by Gullah artisans, cultural arts and education by members of the Cherokee Nation, Bellydancing, African dance, Argentine Tango, Hip Hop, and local chocolate tasting by Asheville's finest chocolatiers and dessert-makers.

Performers will also be teaching classes in: Drumming, Bellydance, Tango, West African Dance, and digeridoo throughout the day which are all included in your ticket price. This is a family friendly event with Local children's performance artists Juan Halladay and the Secret B-sides, balloon twisting, face painting, and dance workshops. 25% of proceeds will be donated to Urban Arts Institute and Odyessy School to fund multicultural arts education for Asheville youth.

Learn more about Asheville Lodging, events and attractions on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Bele Chere Festival - a Weekend of Arts, Music and Food in Asheville

July 27-29   Bele Chere Festival   This lively Asheville weekend event is the largest free outdoor street festival in the Southeast. The three-day festival on the streets of Downtown Asheville features live, original music all day and night for 200,000 festival-goers.

Bele Chere means "beautiful living" and comes from an ancient Scottish dialect. Bele Chere offers the unique opportunity to see, taste and hear some of the region's finest art, cuisine and music.

Visual arts at the festival are displayed at the Art Park as well as throughout the Festival grounds.  The Arts Park features some of the best artists of Bele Chere, exhibiting jewelry, photography, pottery, woodwork, paintings, and metalwork. All items sold in the Arts Park are handmade. Visit the selected artists in the Drhumor and Asheville Savings Bank lots on Patton Avenue between Church Street and Lexington Avenue.

This year's musical line-up includes Antique Firearms, an indie rock band;  ArtOfficial, eschewing the simple magic of beat machines and samples for the irreplaceable warmth of organic instrumentation, and a meticulous care for crafting music with soul;  Baby Rattlesnakes, equal parts soulful jazz, appalachian folk, and catchy pop;  Balsalm Range, a blend of jazz - bluegrass - country and gospel;  and dozens of other original and renowned musicians.

Food and Beverages at the Festival go WAY beyond the usual over-warmed wieners. Experience Foodtopia at the Taste of Asheville in Pack Square. The Taste of Asheville features local restaurants, showcasing a sampling of some of the best cuisine in Asheville, from The Corner Kitchen and the Lobster Trap to Ultimate Ice Cream and Glam Ham Pork Rinds. Pritchard Park Food Court Vendors offer both traditional festival fare along with taste treats from the Amish Baking Co., Party in a Pita, Sherri's Crab Cakes, Steak Boys Inc., Tropical Delights and dozens more.  Beverage booths are located throughout the festival for a pause to refresh with water, soft drinks, beer and wine as well as microbrews from most of Asheville's acclaimed craft brewers.

Additional Bele Chere Festival activities include: The Purina Air Dogs;  The Kids area with a a mix of crafts, rides, and performances;  Easel Rider - Asheville’s Mobile Art Lab;  Nonprofit Booths such as Hats for Humanity;  KISS Country Karaoke to sing your favorite country song; The 33rd Bele Chere 5K hosted by the Asheville Track Club;  Asheville's Urban Trail and Public Art.

Mountain Artisan Summertime Art and Craft Show this Weekend

June 30 - July 1   Mountain Artisan Summertime Art and Craft Show at WCU Local art and crafts from 10 AM - 5 PM held in the Ramsey Center in climate-controlled comfort. Contemporary art and crafts as well as heritage crafts including quilting, pine needle baskets, blacksmithing, clay art, folk dolls, corn shuck flowers, broom corn brooms, carved spirit sticks, and primitive furniture.

Western Carolina University (WCU) is located in Cullowhee NC, just North of Sylva

May 10-13   LEAF - Lake Eden Art Festival     LEAF is one of the treasured traditions for families and friends across the southeast. Held annually at at Camp Rockmont in Black Mountain, a weekend at LEAF is the equivalent of going on a year-long multi-cultural music, arts, dance, and outdoor adventures journey to "recharges your batteries". A few aspects that make LEAF popular is the family friendly atmosphere, the diverse sampling of arts and music, the beautiful setting, and the intimate size.

Find local information on the Black Mountain NC Visitor Guide

8th Annual Beloved Miniatures Show at American Folk

February 10 -  8th Annual Beloved Miniatures Show at American Folk   Opening Reception. Just in time for Valentines Day, 12 of American Folks artists and potters will present work no bigger than 8 x 10 for painters, no bigger than 6 inches tall for potters. “Our folks create small works for this show all year long, and begin sending them in January. We love those little containers coming our way in the dark days of winter….it warms & excite us” says Betsey-Rose Weiss, owner of American Folk.

Get a link for the Miniatures Show and other Asheville NC events HERE

ArtMart this weekend in Old Fort

January 7   ArtMart   Locally created arts and crafts are displayed inside the historic Old Fort Depot in downtown Old Fort NC. Stop by to chat with the creators of these one of a kind items while you shop for yourself, family or friends. There is something for everyone including baskets, paintings, woodwork, wreaths, candles and live demonstrations. ArtMart is sponsored by Arrowhead Artists and Artisans League.

Find a link for ArtMart and more weekend events in the NC Mountain HERE

Thanksgivings Weekend Art and Crafts Events

Nov 25   BREVARD   4th Friday Gallery Walks  An evening of Art, Wine and Food in Downtown Brevard every 4th Friday of the month, from May through December. 5 PM -9 PM
Nov 25-26   CULLOWHEE   24th Annual Hard Candy Christmas   Annual art and craft show  held in the Ramsey Center at Western Carolina University. The event includes all varieties of media for show and sale along with demonstrations in blacksmithing, chain saw carving, pastel painting and more. 

Nov 25-26   FRANKLIN   Mistletoe Magic Holiday  Arts and Crafts Show Explore booth after booth of authentic mountain crafts.

Nov 25-26   SPARTA   Magnum Pottery Open House and Sale   Watch one of the area’s well known potters, Rob Mangum, at work in his Turkey Knob studio and take advantage of the open house specials - just in time for holiday gift-giving. .

Nov 25 - 26   Stecoah Valley Area   Annual Artisans Drive-About Tour in Stecoah -    Visit local artists' studios and galleries and see pottery, original art, a working candle making studio and the Stecoah Gallery featuring a variety of local artisans. Great holiday gift ideas!

Nov 25-26   HIGHLANDS   Artists' Marketplace at the Dave Drake Studio Barn - Featuring a gathering of artist tables, the marketplace is the ideal place to find unique, affordable, one-of-a-kind artists' works for Christmas, hostess and New Year's gifts

 
Nov 26 LAKE LURE The Lake Lure Artists present "Christmas at the Inn" 10 AM - 4 PM, The "Gardens" Building at the 1927 Lake Lure Inn, 64-74A, across from the beach in Lake Lure NC. Shop for Christmas by browsing through a selection of Original Paintings, Drawings, Photography, Prints, Fine Crafts, Jewelry, Pottery and Sculpture. Each artist is donating an item to be raffled."

Nov 26   BLOWING ROCK   Thanksgiving Kiln Opening at Traditions Pottery Studio   Be present at 10:00 a.m. to watch us unload the wood kiln, and them make your selection. Items in the wood kiln will include work from Bolick’s and from Traditions. With face jugs such as Santas, wizards and cry babies, Rebekah pitchers, candlesticks, sculpted chickens, and other traditional wares. Food will be served. Free admission.

Nov 26   HENDERSONVILLE   Curb Market Old Timey Christmas    includes refreshments, music, carriage rides, holiday gifts and arts & crafts. Come visit the South's most unique Curb Market. All items sold at the market must be either handmade or locally grown.       

Annual Artisans Drive-About in Stecoah Valley this weekend

November 25 - 26    Annual Artisans Drive-About Tour in Stecoah -    Visit local artists' studios and galleries and see pottery, original art, a working candle making studio and the Stecoah Gallery featuring a variety of local artisans. Make your Holiday gift-giving special this year with unique hand made art and crafts.

Studios open for tour include: Bee Global Studio Gallery, Creative Impulses “The Little Art Studio", Coffee & Clay, Mill Creek Pottery & Gallery, Mill Creek Pottery & Gallery, TJ's Flamework Glass Studio, Yellow Branch Pottery & Cheese.

Hours: 10 AM - 5 PM. both days. A special holiday lunch will be served in the Schoolhouse Cafe both days. Free admission.

Get a link for The Stecoah Gallery and other
Robbinsville and Stecoah Valley attractions and information HERE

River Arts District Studio Stroll this weekend in Asheville

November 12-13 Asheville's River Arts District Studio Stroll -  During the Studio Stroll, artists of the River Arts District welcome you into their studios to talk with them, see their latest artwork, watch demonstrations, and experience for yourself the magic of the River Arts District.  The Stroll is the first, largest, and most walkable tour of working artists’ studios in the region, including 19 historic buildings and artists’ demonstrations and hands-on activities throughout the weekend.

River Arts District  is open year around, providing the public an opportunity to meet artists in their studios. Schedules are available online. Twice a year, every second weekend in June and November, Asheville’s River Arts District opens to the public for two days of festivities known as the STUDIO STROLL.The District include a variety of cafes, eateries and a brewery to provide sustenance and refreshment during the stroll. There is plenty of parking and you can catch the trolley at Riverview Station or any of the stops listed on the Stroll map. An Information Booth is located at the 5-points intersection of Depot St. across from the Clingman Café.

Western North Carolina Pottery Festival Today in Dillsboro

November 5     Western North Carolina Pottery Festival   This juried fall festival features the work of 42 clay artists, with sales and demonstrations of their craft throughout the day. Roughly half the potters hail from the mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee, while the other half are from as far away as: Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin, New Jersey, Florida and Ohio. 

Joe Frank McKee pottery

“The festival has taken off more than we ever imagined,” said organizer Joe Frank McKee of Dillsboro’s Tree House Pottery. “Attendance increases each year and the potters who apply get better and better. What started as a local pottery festival has blossomed into more of a regional and national pottery festival.”

The walkabout artist village of Dillsboro provides a great atmosphere for the festival, with working studios and friendly shops, framed by the autumn color of the Great Smoky Mountains. Festival hours are 10 AM. to 4 PM., rain or shine. Admission is $3 per person and includes a ticket for a day-long raffle with hourly drawings. Children under 12 are admitted free.  Parking is available at pay and free lots, and free shuttles will run all day between the parking lots and the festival.

Get a link for the Pottery Festival and other
Dillsboro NC Events, lodging and information HERE

NC Fall Leaf Season Event: Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) this Weekend

October 20-23   Lake Eden Arts Festival ( LEAF) A weekend celebration of world folk arts: music concerts, dancing, handcrafts, healing arts, poetry, kidventures and workshops. Beautiful mountain camp setting with lakes and camping.

Get a link for the Lake Eden Arts Festival and other Black Mountain NC events, lodging and visitor information HERE.

A Weekend full of Arts and Crafts in the NC Mountains

Oct 30 - Oct 1 NORTH WILKESBORO Brushy Mountain Apple Jam  -  A large variety of arts & crafts, food and entertainment. Friday: starts at 6pm; Saturday: 9am-5pm. Live entertainment at the corner of 10th and Main Streets. Sponsored annually by the ...read more

Oct 1 - BLOWING ROCK Grand Opening of the Blowing Rock Art & History Museum  -  The Blowing Rock Art and History Musem will be opening its doors to the public at 10 AM. on October 1, 2011. with a ribbon cutting. At 10:30 a Guided Tour kicks off the day's ...read more

Oct 1  - BLOWING ROCK   Art in the Park  - Begun in 1962 Art in the Park now includes over 90 artisans at each juried show. Art in the Park’s high standards and professional jury attract artisans from all over the Southeast to exhibit in a series ...read more


Oct 1 - ASHEVILLE Asheville Downtown Galleries Walk - Take a self-guided tour and explore the diversity of art in downtown ...read more

Oct 1 - OLD FORT ArtsMart -  Locally created arts and crafts displayed inside the historic Old Fort Depot. Stop by to chat with the creators of these one of a kind items while you shop for yourself, family or friends. Something for everyone including ...read more

Oct 1 - BREVARD Forest Festival Day   - More than 50 traditional craftsmen, exhibitors and entertainers gather at the Cradle of Forestry to celebrate our forests and forest heritage. Highlights include: live music, wood carvers, weavers, blacksmith, and a John G. Palmer Intercollegiate Woodsmen’s Meet. This lumberjack-style event is ...read more


Oct 1 -  MARION Mountain Glory Quilter's Show   - Annual show by Mountain Glory Quilter's Guild featuring quilts for sale and show. Heritage Festival Mountain Arts and crafts; Traditional mountain music, craft demonstrations; food and ...read more


Oct 1 - MARS HILL Heritage Festival - Downtown Mars Hill and the Mars Hill College Campus hosts Mountain Arts and crafts; Traditional mountain music, craft demonstrations; food and ...read more


Oct 1 - WAYNESVILLE   Art After Dark  -  Stroll downtown Waynesville's many galleries and art studios the first Friday of each month, May thru December. Watch demonstrations and enjoy artist receptions, music and ...read more

Oct 1-2  - WAYNESVILLE  Haywood Open Studios Tour and Gallery Exhibit  - The 6th Annual Haywood Open Studios Tour encourages participants to visit studios throughout Haywood County, introducing them to the wide range of artists and craftsmen who work and live in our mountain community. A Gallery 86 exhibit features artwork of each participating artist. FREE EVENT


Oct 1-2  - BRASSTOWN Fall Festival at the John C Campbell Folk School  - is one of the largest and most popular events of its type in the region, Fall Festival is a celebration of our rich Appalachian heritage. Fine craft, craft-making demonstrations, music and dance performances, kids' activities, tasty food, and a visit to the school's Craft Shop and History Center make Fall Festival a great way to  ...read more.


Oct 1-2 HENDERSONVILLE Art on Main  -Art on Main is a fine arts/fine crafts show held in Historic Downtown Hendersonville. Downtown is transformed into a giant outdoor art gallery featuring the finest artists & artisans from the southeast. Art on Main attracts ...read more

What to do this Weekend: NC Mountain Events August 12-14

August  12  ASHEVILLE   Biltmore concert series:  Alison Krauss & Union Station  featuring Jerry Douglas, with special guest Dawes Enjoy a variety of live performances at Biltmore from July through October held on the South Terrace and the Diana at Biltmore. Dining options available. 

August 12   WEST JEFFERSON   West Jefferson Gallery Crawl   Over a dozen galleries in historic downtown West Jefferson participate in the 11th Annual Gallery Crawl. Extended gallery hours are from 5:00 - 8:00 PM

August 12    TYRON   Summer Tracks:  Gigi Dover & the Big Love. 7 PM - 10 PM   The concert is free, however, a voluntary donation at the gate is encouraged. Giardinis wood fired pizzas, water and soft drinks will be for sale.

August 12   NEWLAND   The Newland River Walk Concert Series   6 PM - 9 PM   A variety of music and entertainment in a family atmosphere. Bring your blanket, pop-up tent, table, chairs, cooler or whatever, for a family picnic while enjoying the summer long series.  Located at the Newland River Walk Band shell (adjacent to Lowes parking lot).

August 12   HENDERSONVILLE  Music on Main Street Concert Series  Every Friday evening from June - August . The event feature " oldies rock, beach music, variety and top 40 music. Bring a chair and enjoy the FREE  music.

August 12   WAYNESVILLE   Young Artist Concert   Vassily Primakov is, "a pianist's pianist , performs.  Since the 2008 release of his recording of the Chopin Piano Concertos, Primakov has been hailed as a pianist of world class significance>

August 12 - 13   ASHEVILLE  WNC Magazine Asheville Wine & Food Festival    The largest celebration of wines and local delicacies that the Asheville area has ever seen. This year, the festival weekend kicks off with Sweet, a culinary adventure in to the decadent world of desserts, champagnes, dessert wines, specialty cocktails, and spirits. Sweet will be held at the historic Grove Arcade in downtown

Asheville.12 - 13   BREVARD   Transylvania County Handcrafter's Guild Show  Locally handcrafted artwork on display and for sale under the big tent at Brevard College.

August 12 - 13   FRANKLIN   3rd Annual Mountain High BBQ & Music Festival   KCBS sanctioned, NC State Championship BBQ Contest. Come mingle with Professional Cookers from all over the US as they compete to win Grand Champion. Friday night - "Sons of Sailors" Great Music and delicious food! Official BBQ competition and awards ceremony Saturday. New this year a Car Show presented by Koss Motor Sports.

August 12 - 14   LANSING   Ola Belle Reed Music Festival   three days of old time, bluegrass and Celtic music, along with food, arts, crafts and good times. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated, and proceeds go to the revitalization of the charming railroad town of Lansing, located on the shores of Big Horse Creek. Bring your own chairs, blankets, and water shoes for wading in the creek. Music will be continuous during the days and evenings, with instrumental, songwriting and voice workshops scheduled.

August 12 - 20   BURNSVILLE   The Parkway Playhouse presents: Robin Hood The Legend of Sherwood. Sweeping adventure and diabolical villainy collide in this fast-paced swashbuckler. This one-of-a-kind adventure recounts the legend of the world's most famous "outlaw" who stole from the rich and gave to the poor.

August 13     BREVARD   2nd Saturday Program at the Heritage Museum   The History of Transylvania - 1861 Education Practices: Jodi Huggins

August 13   BLOWING ROCK   Art in the Park  Begun in 1962 Art in the Park now includes over 90 artisans at each juried show. Art in the Park’s high standards and professional jury attract artisans from all over the Southeast to exhibit in a series of six shows, May through October. The quality of work exhibited draws thousands to the mountains each month.

August 13   BLOWING ROCK   Mountain Home Music Series:   The Mountain Dulcimer: Bob & Melody Thomason, and Jim Miller   Now in its 18th year, this music series is dedicated to the proposition that, in the words of founder Joe Shannon, "our local music here is as good as any in the world."

August 13   ASHEVILLE   Wood Day at the Folk Art Center   An annual celebration of wood crafts including  live demonstrations and the Eleventh Annual Carve-Off Competition

August 13   ASHEVILLE   Shindig on the Green   A joyously spontaneous celebration of traditional and old-time string bands, ballad singers, storytellers, big circle mountain dancers and cloggers.  Stage show and informal jam sessions.

August 13   ASHEVILLE   2nd Saturdays: 'The Art of Historic Furnishings' at Wolfe Memorial  The final 2nd Saturdays program for this summer at the Thomas Wolfe homeplace.  Join Biltmore House furnishings preservationists for an in-depth, detailed look at the unique and ordinary furnishings of the "Old Kentucky Home," now a state historic site.
The 2nd Saturdays programs are sponsored statewide by the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources (http://www.ncculture.com), combining family fun and the arts with history and cultural heritage.

August 13   BRYSON CITY   Music in the Mountains - Free Concerts   The Sawmill Creek Porch Band   Every Saturday night from June through Oct, enjoy a FREE concert in Bryson City at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Train Depot from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Sit in one of the old church pews on the covered depot deck or bring a lawn chair to enjoy the show. 13   OLD FORT   2nd Saturdays: 'Farm Day' at Mountain Gateway Museum   Celebrate North Carolina farms at the final 2nd Saturdays event for this summer. Shop for organic and local foods, see some farm animals in action, and watch machinery demonstrations.
For more information call the museum at (828) 668-9259.

August 13   BRYSON CITY   NOC Canoe Club Challenge  Round 3   The biggest paddling "race" in the country! Every paddler is welcome to participate at these social, beginner-friendly gate races

August 13   BREVARD   2nd Saturday Program at the Heritage Museum   Learn about the history of Transylvania County. 1861 Education Practices: Jodi Huggins. Second Saturday Programs are free to the public and begin at the Museum at 1 p.m.

August 13   WILKESBORO   Candle Light Ghost Tours  An evening of tales, mystery and haunts. Learn about the ghosts that haunt the old buildings of downtown Wilkesboro. Visit a cemetery where Civil War Soldiers are buried, stand in the jail cell where Tom Dooley spent his last days and listen to the stories of the haunted Smithey Hotel. Tours start at 7:30pm.

August 13   NORTH WILKESBORO   Black Cat Station Open House   Black Cat Station is home of a large "H.O." Scale Model Railroad operating many trains at one time. The Station is also a hosting facility for  cultural events and personal parties.

August 13   NORTH WILKESBORO   Lawn Mower Race  Mow Down is  fun and entertaining for all ages. Suped up riding lawn mowers from 5 to 18 horsepower motors compete.

August 13   WEST JEFFERSON   Blue Ridge Brutal 100 Bike Race  This ride tours Ashe and Alleghany Counties and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Beginning and ending in front of the Ashe Civic Center, in the shadow of Mount Jefferson, the ride offers 100 miles of varied and challenging terrain.

August 13   WEAVERVILLE   2nd Saturdays: "Zeb Vance, A Heritage Play"  The Vance Birthplace's final 2nd Saturdays program this summer is "Zeb Vance, A Heritage Play," featuring two performances of a new one-act play about former N.C. Governor and U.S. Senator Zebulon B. Vance.
The presentations of the play are at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., produced and performed by the Southern Appalachian Repertory Theater. Visitors who bring a picnic lunch can dine under the covered pavilion. The state historic site is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.

August 13 - 14   BLACK MOUNTIAN    34th Annual Sourwood Festival   A Popular annual festival encompassing all of downtown Black Mountain. Music, dancing, arts & crafts, great food, kid's rides and games, face painting and more in a no alcohol environment make it the perfect event for the entire family.  Honey and bee demonstrations and gourmet sourwood honey are included.

August 14   OLD FORT   Classic Car Show   Bring your car, truck, or motorcycle. Downtown Old Fort, 1-5 PM.  FREE . Sponsored by Route 70 Cruisers.

August 14   TRYON   The KingPup Radio Show is a worldwide syndicated radio program hosted by musicians Phil & Gaye Johnson showcasing the traditional music and artists of the Carolna Blue Ridge, Hickory Flat, Quarterhouse

August 14 - 15   FLAT ROCK   Flat Rock Playhouse Music on the Rock  "Anything Goes: the Music of Cole Porter"   Summer Music on the Rock Concerts offer audiences a variety of music of well-known artists performed by exceptional singers and musicians.

Blue Parkway's Folk Art Center Annual Wood Day in Asheville

August 13 - Wood Day at the Folk Art Center in Asheville is an annual celebration of wood crafts including live demonstrations. One of the highlights of the event is the Eleventh Annual Carve-Off Competition from 1 PM - 3 PM. The Folk Art Center's auditorium will be filled with lathes, sawhorses, wood tools and the master craftspeople who know how to use them.

Wood Day demonstrations include flute making, wood turning, broom making and furniture design and construction. There will be activities specifically for children conducted by Southern Highland Craft Guild members Sandra Rowland and Jan Morris.

Wood Day Participants include:
Will Hines -  coopering
Lyle Wheeler -  chair making
Derek Hennigar -  furniture
Bill Henry -  whittling
Don Duncan -  treenware
Jim McPhail -  wood turning

WNC Woodcarvers  include:
Walt Cottingham -  birdhouses
Friendswood - Brooms
Alan Hollar -  wood turning
Helen Gibson -  carving
Carolyn Anderson -  carving
Dana Hatheway -  chair making
Eddie Howard -  carving
Lee Entrekin -  flute making
David Crandall -  boxes
Sandra Rowland and  Jan Morris - kids activities

The Folk Art Center is located at Milepost 382 on The Blue ridge Parkway

in Asheville North Carolina.

Summer Fiber Festival in Asheville

July 15-17 -  Summer Fiber Festival is Three spectacular days of more than 35 vendors with a variety of over 70 classes/workshops and free demonstrations. Artist and vendors from all over the United States will feature workshops in felting, spinning, weaving, dyeing, knitting, crocheting and much more. No entry charge for the retreat, you only pay for the classes you take!

5th Annual Laugh Your Asheville Off.

Carl LaBove performs in Asheville

July 12 - 16 Grab your funnybone and head for Asheville's  5th Annual Laugh your Asheville Off.  This year’s festival will feature over 50 comics in 3 days. The annual event has grown into one of the largest stand-up comedy festivals in the Southeast. The festival returns to locations in downtown Asheville,  including the Diana Wortham Theatre.

The  kick off Tuesday evening is a benefit, Local Laughs, for the brother wolf rescue performed at The Magnetic Field, 372 Depot Street .Wednesday evening the Launch Party showcases Comedy Central;s Kyle Kinane at The Highland Brewing Company. Get a complete schedule here.

4th of July Weekend Event: Freedom Festival Arts & Crafts Show

July 2 - 3   Freedom Festival Arts & Crafts Show   The Blue Ridge Artists and Crafters Association, a local nonprofit crafters group located in Haywood County, is sponsoring the Freedom Festival Arts & Crafts Show.  9 AM - 5 PM  Saturday and Sunday.  One of the longest-running shows in the area, the Freedom Festival is an indoor show with approximately 50 crafters, free parking, free admission, and food available.The Festival is held on the Haywood County Fairgrounds, 758 Crabtree Road in Waynesville NC.

Arts and Crafts in the Mountains this Week

Summer activities in the NC mountains are in full swing now and that includes one of mountains' favorite natural resources: local art and craft. Outdoor festivals, gallery shows and art walks offer visitors the opportunity to see the remarkable creativity and hand work or 100s of mountain artisans. Purchase fine art or mountain crafts and take a part of the beautiful western North Carolina mountain back home with you!

June 10 -   BREVARD NC Transylvania County Handcrafter's Guild Show Locally handcrafted artwork on display and for sale under the big tent at Brevard College.

June 10 - WEST JEFFERSON NC  West Jefferson Gallery Crawl  Over a dozen galleries in historic downtown West Jefferson participate in the 11th Annual Gallery Crawl. Extended gallery hours are from 5:00 - 8:00 PM

June 10 - July 2 WEST JEFFERSON NC  Shadow of the Hills Art Exhibit The annual member exhibit by the Blue Ridge Art Clan is featured in The Gallery of the Ashe Arts Center. The show will feature the work of over two-dozen local painters with the artists’ reception will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday evening, June 10 in conjunction with the first Gallery Crawl of the season.
June 10 and 11 -  TRYON NC   The Foothills Craft Fair at the Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival. A juried fine arts and crafts festival along the banks of the Pacolet River during the annual Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival. The popular show is attended by 15,000 - 20,000 visitors each year.

June 10 - 12  in SPRUCE PINE, BURNSVILLE NC Toe River Arts Council Studio Tour Various studios across Yancey are open Friday From 12-4 and Saturday 10-6. Reception on Friday from 5 to 7 at the Spruce Pine Toe River Arts Council Gallery.

June 11 in WAYNESVILLE NC   Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration Protecting and preserving mountain history through a heritage themed festival. A full day celebration of traditional mountain craft, food, and entertainment. Demonstrations of Appalachian life skills & crafts, storytelling, mountain music & clogging, home-style food vendors. 10am–5pm Main Street.
June 11 in  BLOWING ROCK NC   Art in the Park  Begun in 1962 Art in the Park now includes over 90 artisans at each juried show. Art in the Park’s high standards and professional jury attract artisans from all over the Southeast to exhibit in a series of six shows, May through October. The quality of work exhibited draws thousands to the mountains each month.

June 11 in  BRASSTOWN NC   Gala and Benefit Art Auction will be held at the John C Campbell Folk School at 5:00 PM. This special evening will give attendees the opportunity to support the Folk School by bidding on pieces of art and craft of the highest quality. Attendees will also enjoy delicious Southern fare, drinks, and live music as they peruse the sundry items available for the bidding.

June 11 in OLD FORT NC   Turtle Island Pottery Open House A Full house of individually handcrafted functional wares, art pottery and sculptures. Turtle Island Pottery is located off Bat Cave Road in Old Fort.


June 11 - 12 in  ASHEVILLE NC   River Arts District Studio Stroll  More than 140 working artists open their studios to the public for two days of festivities. Painters, potters, sculptors, weavers, photographers, jewelers, woodworkers, great food & more......all in revitalized old factories and warehouses along the French Broad River, just minutes from downtown

For additional information about Arts and Crafts in the NC Mountains click here

Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival 2011

June 1-12 from 10 AM - 11 PM at at Harmon Field in Tryon, NC:  Blue Ridge Barbecue and Music Festival.  Admission is $7, with children 12 and under admitted free.

Music and performances:
The big Main Stage hosts the feature acts and headliners. Dance or just listen to two days and nights of great music.  Located in an idyllic spot along the laughing Pacolet River near the head of the Foothills Crafts Fair, the Riverside Stage boasts more of a softer songwriters’ venue in an intimate setting. Get more information on the Festival's entertainment schedule and lineup:  Festival Music section.

Foothills Craft Fair
Bring your canvas shopping bag and prepare to be delighted by the fine items in the Foothills Crafts Fair. Dotted along the Pacolet River, many of our artisans demonstrate their skills and enjoy chatting with you about their craft.

The Food
The heart and the soul of the Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival is the competition cook teams with their rigs set up to vie for prestige, cash prizes and awards in this, the North Carolina State Barbecue Championship. The top ranking team from North Carolina also wins the coveted Governor’s Trophy. Teams must compete in all four sanctioned categories; Chicken, Pork Ribs, Pork and Beef Brisket to be considered for Grand Champion.

The 2011 Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival is predicted to be the best ever, according to Steering Committee members who are already hard at work to produce the event, "We've got an enthusiastic group of people working hard on some very good new ideas," said Festival Chairman Chuck Britton. "We don't want to change anything that people have grown to love about the Festival. We just want to add to the whole experience for each person who participates - and that includes guests, cook teams, sponsors, volunteers, everyone!"  Watch the new TV commercial 

What to do this Weekend: NC Mountain Events and Festivals

 You'll find LOTS of thing to do this weekend in the BEAUTIFUL mountains of North Carolina. From Art Walks and craft demonstrations to train rides and trout fishing, there's never a dull moment in the mountains.

June 3   WAYNESVILLE   Art After Dark  Stroll downtown Waynesville's many galleries and art studios the first Friday of each month, May thru December. Watch demonstrations and ... read more

June 3   ASHEVILLE   Asheville Downtown Galleries Walk  Take a self-guided tour and explore the diversity of art in downtown Asheville.... read more

June 3   MARION   First Friday Concert & Livermush Festival   Activities include music and a livermush cooking contest. Free; 7-9pm; Main Street, Historic Downtown Marion... read more.

June 3   TRYON   Sarah Jarosz Performs Live at The Tryon Fine Arts Center  20-year-old Sarah will be accompanied by even younger Alex Hargreaves on fiddle and Nathaniel Smith on cello. This amazing young performer currently is ... read more

June 3 - 4   MAGGIE VALLEY   Ole Smoky Spring Farm Fest   FREE Antique Tractor show, parade... read more

June 3 - 4    OLD FORT  and MARION  NC Gold Festival   Annual event, featuring gold exhibits, gold mining techniques and demonstrations, treasure and scavenger hunts, geo-caching, gold panning, numerous vendors including arts and crafts... read more

June 3 - 4   BLOWING ROCK   Jan Karon: My Writing Life at the Hayes Performing Arts Center   Celebrated Mitford novelist Jan Karon conducts two morning lectures titled Jan Karon: My Writing Life. The talk will focus on such topics as ... read more

June 3 - 11   BURNSVILLE   The Parkway Playhouse presents "An Uncivil Union: The Battle of Burnsville"   By Britt Kaufmann, this is a fictionalized account of actual events leading up to a raid on a Confederate supply house... read more

June 3 - 12   BLOWING ROCK   Day Out with Thomas the Tank Engine  Hop aboard with Thomas the Tank Engine as he chugs through the Blue Ridge Mountains. During Thomas' visit, children will have the opportunity to meet and take pictures ... read more

June 3 - Aug 31   CHEROKEE   "Unto These Hills" Outdoor Drama  2011 season opening. For over 50 years, this spectacular outdoor drama has  portrayed the history of the Cherokee Indians covering the period of 1540 up to and... read more

June 4   SPRUCE PINE and BAKERSVILLE   Troutacular!  The one-day event is a dual town Festival connecting Spruce Pine and Bakersville, two of the five mountain towns named participants in pilot programs for Mountain Heritage Trout Waters Cities in North Carolina. Festival activities include fishing and ... read more

June 4    OLD FORT   ArtsMart  Locally created arts and crafts displayed inside the historic Old Fort Depot. Stop by to chat with the creators of these one of a kind items while you shop for yourself, family or friends... read more

June  4  CULLOWHEE   6th annual Patchwork Folk and Fabric Festival  Come see old time needle quilting and the fiber arts that are part of the heritage of the Western North Carolina Mountains. Other demonstrations this year will include nature illustrations, tatting, caning... read more

June 4   ASHEVILLE   Second annual Beer City Festival  Asheville is the proud title holder of Beer City USA and this festival shows why its the champion of craft beer... read more

June 4      SALUDA   Historic Saluda Tour of Homes   This tour is a part of Saluda’s 130th Anniversary Celebration. Historic  Smith Hill has been chosen as the site of the tour along with 5 other historic homes, a tea house and two additional smaller buildings, all within walking distance of each other.

June 4    GRASSEY CREEK   New River Celtic Festival  This inaugural New River Celtic Music Festival and features an afternoon of some of the regions best Celtic music at River House. Sit back and take in the sights and sounds of the river and the mountains. There will be food and drink available, so bring your chair or blanket and join us.

June 4     TRYON   Tryon Gallery Trot   Enjoy great art, plus shop in downtown Tryon.  The event includes strolling musicians, performers, and vendors. All galleries will either host opening receptions for new exhibits, or host late hours. Other local merchants and restaurants will be open as well.
June 4     HENDERSON   Curb Market Old Timey Day  The Henderson County Curb Market is the South's most unique Curb Market. This special event includes music, sausage & ham biscuits cooked on a old timey wood stove, antique displays and more. All items sold at the market must be either handmade or locally grown Henderson County.

June 4     ASHEVILLE   Clay Day at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Folk Art Center   Members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild demonstrate throwing on the potter's wheel, hand building and surface design on clay, among other techniques.

June 4  ASHEVILLE   Clay Day at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Folk Art Center   Members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild demonstrate throwing on the potter's wheel, hand building and surface design on clay, among other techniques.

June 4      BRYSON CITY   Music in the Mountains - Free Concerts   THE BARN CATS   Every Saturday night from June through Oct, enjoy a FREE concert in Bryson City at the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad Train Depot from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. Sit in one of the old church pews on the covered depot deck or bring a lawn chair to enjoy the show.

June 4     MURPHY   Spring Festival  Held in Downtown Murphy. Crafts, food, music, antique car show, family fun, including a kid's corner. For more information the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce at 828-837-2242

June 4 - 5   BLACK MOUNTAIN   14th Annual Black Mountain Arts and Crafts Show   Over 65 Juried Crafters and Artists. Enjoy food and cold drinks at the west end of town at The Old Depot.

 

Find more NC Mountain Events on the Events Calendar