 At a Glance
July 19-22 & October 18-21, 2012, 10am-6pm Thursday-Saturday, and 10am-5pm Sunday
What: The Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands: More than 200 craftspeople fill two floors with fine handcrafted items, while local musicians play live on the arena stage, and craft educators share their knowledge.
Where: Asheville Civic Center, 87 Haywood St. in downtown Asheville, NC
Admission: Adults $8, children under 12 free. Group discounts available
For four days each July and October, the Civic Center in Asheville comes alive with fine traditional and contemporary crafts. The Fairs, a local tradition since 1948, showcase the work of members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and feature craft demonstrations, regional music and entertainment.
Over 200 craftspeople fill the two levels of the Civic Center selling their works of clay, fiber, glass, leather, metal, mixed media, natural materials, paper, wood and jewelry. As members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, the exhibiting artists have passed a rigorous jury process to become a part of the organization. Membership is open to artists who live in the mountain counties of Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, the Carolinas, Tennessee, and the Virginias.
 While locals and visitors can find crafts at numerous galleries, the Fairs are unique in that they offer people the opportunity to connect with the artists by purchasing directly from them. The community this fosters is important to craftspeople and patrons alike. In an age of mass production and imports, the connection to fine American craft and the individual maker is more relevant than ever. The Fairs help the Southern Highland Craft Guild fulfill its mission to bring together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, marketing and conservation.
Long known as an arts and crafts destination, Asheville offers architectural charm, eclectic restaurants and a wide variety of lodging near the Fair. Craft demonstrations are a highlight at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands. Watching and interacting with highly skilled craftspeople as they create is entertaining and educational. Throughout the show, visitors will have the opportunity to observe works by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and to learn about their inspiration and methods.
Additional information about this event is available at 828-298-7928.
October 2011
Schedule of Demonstrations
Asheville Bookworks: Bookworks is a community resource of classes, exhibits, lectures, and annual events for print and book arts located in west Asheville. At the October show they will be sharing a variety of techniques from book binding to letter press.
Charlie Patricolo: An interactive demonstration of cloth doll making with a variety of dolls in various stages. Charlie has been a member of the SHCG since 2002.
Dede Styles and Cassie Dickson: natural dyeing and spinning. Dede Styles of Swannanoa, NC and Cassie Dickson of Sylva, NC will demonstrate their traditional craft outside the Civic Center. Dede has been a member of the SHCG since 2000. Cassie Dickson has been a member of the SHCG since 1998.
Gary Clontz: raku pottery. Gary will demonstrate all aspects of raku firing outside the Civic Center, from glazing the pot to firing it. Raku is a ceramic firing process which uses fire and smoke to create unique patterns and designs. He has been a member of the Guild since 1981.
Entertainment Schedule
Friday, October 21
11am Cary Fridley and Down South: Cary Fridley’s powerful vocals soar on an all-star group featuring honky-tonk guitar, bluesy pedal-steel and hot Appalachian fiddle stylings.
12:30 Sherri Lynn and Mountain Friends: This group plays high energy American swing-grass. This is a strong team that combines fine musicianship and pure joy, giving audiences a highly entertaining show.
2pm The Moore Brothers Band: Led by a duo of young brothers from Hickory, NC, this band plays bluegrass and gospel.
4pm Hot Duck Soup: Kazoos, slide whistles, banjos, guitars, ukes, an antique cornet, washtub bass, and the Cacophonium! Hot Duck Soup plays old tunes like you’ve never heard ‘em played.
Saturday, October 22
11am Blue-Eyed Girl: Led my Guild member Annie Fain Liden, Blue Eyed Girl is an all-girl band steeped in old time mountain music traditions.
12:30 Buncombe Turnpike: Performing the region’s finest bluegrass, this group has earned a great reputation including being featured on CMT.
2pm TBD
4pm Bear Down Easy: This young local group returns to the Guild Fair with a super-polished sound.
Sunday, October 23
11am Riders of the Green Laurel: Known for entertaining audiences with favorite bluegrass songs, jazz-infused acoustic instrumentals, dancy Texas swing numbers, folk ballads and classic country tunes.
12:30 Split Rail: Split Rail provides a great continuity of sound that can only be achieved from years of playing together. Strong vocal harmony is their trademark.
2pm Honey Holler: An all-woman string band that captures the traditional sound of Southern Appalachia with spirited songs and fiddle tunes.
3:30 Hominy Valley Boys: This group of musicians have shared other stages with Dr. Ralph Stanley and the Clinch Mountain Boys, Lonesome River Band, Balsam Range and many others.
Also see the home of the Southern Highlands Craft Guild, the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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