Art and Craft Events this Weekend in the Mountains

September 19 - 22
NC City: SPINDALE
Event: Celebration of the Arts The Show is held at the at the Foundation Conference & Performing Arts Center at Isothermal Community College. The show is sponsored by the Rutherford County Visual Artists Guild (RCVAG) and supported in part by the NC Arts Council. 2D and 3D artwork in various media including paintings, photography, clay, wood, textiles, glass, metal, and jewelry for recognition, ribbons, and cash awards. In addition to the show, an adjoining gift shop will be selling handcrafted artwork at affordable prices

September 20 - 21
NC City: WEST JEFFERSON
Event: 11th Annual Ashe County Quilt Fair This year's Fair theme is " Quilts in the Attic". Events include the Guild Shoppe and Guild Boutique with quilts for sale, a fund-raiser quilt, vender village, sewing machines through the ages and small quilt silent auction. The Fair is held in Jefferson Station, 20 E Ashe Street in West Jefferson NC. 

September 21
NC City: WEAVERVILLE
Event: Art in Autumn This is the seventh annual Art in Autumn Outdoor Arts and Crafts Festival. Over 100 juried artists and craftspeople, as well as an exciting array of food and live music. The festival brings a lively celebration of community and fine art to the Main Street of the 'Mayberry-esque' town of Weaverville. 

September 21
NC City: SPARTA
Event: 19th Annual Mountain Heritage Festival Craft and food vendors line Main Street in celebration of mountain heritage in craft and music. This year's entertainment features Zephyr Lightning Bolts . With demonstrations of the skills of local ancestors and music that mixes local heritage with modern influences, there is something for everyone. Dancers will be kicking up their heels and the Possum Queen will be crowned.

September 21
NC City: ASHEVILLE
Event: Asheville City Market   Find the the freshest, best-tasting food around plus local artisan products in two locations for your convenience: downtown and South Asheville. Debit and credit cards are accepted. Also enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations and food tastings from local chefs, Kids Corner Market activities, and more.

September 21-22
NC City: ASHEVILLE
Event: Heritage Weekend is a two-day celebration of traditional crafts and music. The 32nd free festival is sponsored by the Southern Highland Craft Guild and features traditional music, dancing and heritage craft demonstrations. A highlight of the weekend is the 32nd Annual World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition on Saturday, 2:00-3:00 PM. Joe “Colonel Buncombe” Bly will emcee the competition.

Find links for more NC Mountains Weekend Events on the NC Events Calendar.

National Quilting Day Celebrated at Asheville's Folk Art Center

March 16   National Quilting Day at the Folk Art Center   Celebrate National Quilting Day at the Folk Art Center with Connie Brown and Robin Brooks, who are members of the Asheville Quilt Guild and the Southern Highland Craft Guild, demonstrating their craft from 10 AM to 4 PM in the center’s lobby.

Visitors are also invited to bring a quilt – a family heirloom, an antique purchase, or a vintage quilt with a unique design, for questions and analysis by Connie. Helpful information about how to care for quilts and how to learn more about the process will also be provided.

During the event, the Allanstand Craft Shop at the Folk Art Center will feature a variety of traditional and contemporary quilts made by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. The Folk Art Center is located at Milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville NC.

Mother's Day Weekend Events: Airing of the Quilts in Franklin

May 12      Airing of the Quilts   Franklin NC stores and churches will be decorated with quilts. The Downtown Square will features exhibits by the Smoky Mountain Quilters guild, Macon county Quilt Trail, Macon County Art Association, and various community development clubs. The Town of Franklin antique fire truck will also be decorated and on display.

A quilting workshop featuring Jane Hall will be held on May 11 offering participants the secrets to making the gorgeous "Mariners compass" block. Ms Hall has lectured and taught quiltmaking for guilds and quilt conferences in the United States and abroad for twenty-five years. She is an author and quilt designer as well as a teacher, judge, and appraiser for antique and contemporary quilts. Early registration is recommended with only space for only 20 participants. 

Franklin  and Macon County is the newest addition to the Western North Carolina Quilt Trail. The Trail initiative began in Western North Carolina in 2006 in Madison and Ashe counties when Handmade in America made a grant to the counties to get the project started. Over 100 quilt blocks now are hosted in Madison and Ashe alone. The Macon County Quilt Trail, currently with 20+ "quilts" was started by seed money from the Franklin Tourism Development Authority and the Franklin Tourism Development Committee.

Hundreds of quilts will be "airing" all over Franklin's downtown, at quilt trail block locations and at private residences all around Macon County. In addition, look for Quilt Related vendors, enjoy the free antique quilt show at Town Hall, get your quilt appraised and more!

Get more local information on the Franklin NC Visitor Guide.