Heritage Weekend at Asheville's Folk Art Center

September 20 - 21, 2014   Heritage Weekend    is a two-day celebration of traditional crafts and music. This 34th annual 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. 


The Folk Art Center   is home base for the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the Center is the hub of traditional and contemporary mountain art and crafts, with changing exhibits in both the focus gallery and the main gallery and the permanent exhibit all styles are displayed. Demonstrations and educational opportunities are scheduled regularly and there are special events throughout the year. The members shop is visited by thousands of tourists and locals annually.  The Folk Art Center is located at milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville NC

Blue Ridge Parkway and the Folk Art Center Re-Open

The government shut-down has ended and all the facilities along the Blue Ridge Parkway are open, including the popular Folk Art Center at milepost 382 in Asheville.

The Folk Art Center   Home base for the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the Center is the hub of traditional and contemporary mountain art and crafts, with changing exhibits in both the focus gallery and the main gallery and the permanent exhibit all styles are displayed. Demonstrations and educational opportunities are scheduled regularly and there are special events throughout the year. The members shop is visited by thousands of tourists and locals annually.

Get links for Asheville NC visitor information HERE.

Asheville's Folk Art Center Clay Day

June 1   From 10 Am - 4 PM  Clay Day at The Folk Art Center.   The the Southern Highland Craft Guild  celebrates ceramic arts with craft demonstrations and hands-on activities including the Annual "Make and Take" Raku Firing. Buy a $10 pot, glaze it and watch expert potters raku fire it for you.  Raku is a ceramic firing process which uses fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs.

Other demonstrations include clay sculpture, hand building, surface design and throwing on the potter's wheel. Volunteers from Haywood Community College Professional Crafts Department will be demonstrating and assisting visitors with a try at the potter’s wheel.  Southern Highland Craft Guild member Cindy Billingsley will lead a collaborative sculpture project.  Members Becky & Steve Lloyd will demonstrate sgraffito on porcelain and wheel throwing.

The Folk Art Center is located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 382 in Asheville NC.

Asheville Holiday Event: Guild Artist Holiday Sale at Asheville's Folk Art Center

Robert Levine, glass artist

December 8   Guild Artist Holiday Sale   The Southern Highland Craft Guild presents the annual Holiday crafts sale at the Folk Art Center from 10 AM - 4 PM, milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Choose from a variety of Holiday gift items - at special prices - including ceramics, jewelry, fiber, paper, glass and wood. Buying from artists supports the local economy and promotes the mission of the Guild which is bringing together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, marketing and conservation.
Learn more about Asheville Holiday and Christmas events on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.