Craft Fairs, Festivals and Open Studio Tours

Craft fairs and festivals are lively social events that happen throughout the year and across the state. They are unique opportunities for members of the public to meet craftspeople working in clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, natural materials, paper, wood and jewelry, watch them in action, ask questions about their work and buy their wares. They can also be festive occasions to reconnect with family and friends, or to make new acquaintances. In addition to annual festivals, which bring artisans together in one place, there are open studio tours which involve driving from artist studio to artist studio across a county or region.

Major Craft Fairs and Festivals

Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
Asheville Convention Center

Mid-July and Mid-October

Held since 1948, the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands showcases the work of members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, who create crafts rooted in Appalachian traditions as well as contemporary works.

http://www.southernhighlandguild.org/

Durham Art Walk, Durham Arts Council
Downtown Durham

Mid-November

More than 200 artists sell locally made gifts of art including jewelry, scarves, paintings, pottery and more. The walk includes live music performances and food.

http://www.durhamartwalk.com/

Piedmont Craftsmen Fair
Benton Convention Center, Winston-Salem

Weekend before Thanksgiving

Meet the craftspeople, talk to them about their work and view demonstrations of craft techniques at this fair, held annually since 1963. More than 130 fine artisans from across the Southeast will exhibit and sell works in clay, wood, glass, fibers, leather, metal, photography, printmaking and mixed media.

http://www.piedmontcraftsmen.org/crafts-fair.htm

Carolina Designer Craftsmen Fine Craft and Design Show
North Carolina State Fairgrounds Exposition Center, Raleigh

Weekend after Thanksgiving

Since 1970, this show and sale has highlighted juried, one-of-a-kind fine crafts including pottery, clay, sculpture, wearable fiber, blown glass, jewelry, metal, wood, furniture, photography, printmaking and mixed media in all price ranges.

http://www.carolinadesignercraftsmen.com/

Charlotte Fine Art & Craft Show™
Charlotte Convention Center

Early December

This fourth annual juried art show brings together makers of fine art clay, glass, sculpture, wood, fiber, jewelry and more.

http://hotworks.org/charlottefineartshow/index.php

Major Pottery Festivals

Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival
Hickory Metro Convention Center

End of March

Established in 1998, this festival brings together 110 exhibitors of antique traditional pottery, contemporary pottery, textiles, folk art and furniture.

http://www.catawbahistory.org

Sanford Pottery Festival
Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center

Weekend before Mother’s Day and first weekend in December

The Sanford Pottery Festival, initiated in 2001, draws exhibiting and demonstrating potters from across North Carolina as well as the Seagrove area.

http://www.sanfordpottery.org/

Celebration of Seagrove Potters
Luck’s Cannery, Seagrove

Weekend before Thanksgiving

Established in 2008, this show and sale highlights the traditional and contemporary pottery of the historic Seagrove community.

http://www.celebrationofseagrovepotters.com/index.html

Seagrove Pottery Festival
Seagrove School

Weekend before Thanksgiving

For more than 30 years, this annual event has brought most of the Seagrove area potters to one location to sell their handmade pottery and traditional crafts.

http://www.seagrovepotterymuseum.org/

Appalachian Potters Market
McDowell High School, Marion

First Saturday in December

Sponsored by the McDowell Arts Council Association, this festival was inaugurated in 1986 and features 66 potters working in traditional and contemporary styles.

http://www.mcdowellarts.org/taxonomy/term/3

Major Open Studio Tours

Scenic 276 South Fine Art and Craft Studio Tour

First weekend in May

This studio tour centered around scenic route 276 south features pottery, photography, glass, wood, paintings and more.

www.scenic276arts.com

Orange County Artists Guild Open Studio Tour

First two weekends in November

Originating in 1995, this open studio tour typically features around 80 artists working in a variety of mediums: drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, clay, pottery, ceramics, metal, mixed media/collage, painting and photography.

http://www.ibiblio.org/ocag/

River Arts District Studio Stroll
Asheville

Mid-November

One hundred and twenty working artist studios in 13 historic buildings open their doors for this studio stroll featuring glass, musical instruments, wood, clay, recycled furniture, painting, metal, stone, sculpture, jewelry, fiber, mixed media and more. A second studio stroll takes place every June.

http://www.riverartsdistrict.com/

Toe River Studio Tour
Burnsville (Mitchell and Yancey counties)

First weekend in December and mid-June

There are nine galleries and 103 artist studios participating in this year’s studio tour, many of which are not normally open to the public. They represent an array of works in basketry, clay, fiber, glass, jewelry, metal, wood, stone, sculpture, mixed media and books.

http://www.toeriverarts.org/

Chatham Studio Tour, Chatham Artists Guild
Chatham County

First two weekends in December

Founded in 1992 and one of the oldest in the state, the Chatham Studio Tour features nearly 60 artists working in pottery, drawing, fiber, glass, jewelry, mixed media, metal, painting, photography, silk screening, stone and wood.

http://www.chathamstudiotour.com/home.html