Celebrating its forty-sixth year in Gatlinburg, the annual Spring Craftsmen’s Fair happens July 9-18. 2021, in the Convention Center at traffic light #8.
For these 10 days, the Fair is open 10 am to 5 pm each day, with one ticket price of $10 that can extend through all the days if you want – and kids 17 and younger get in FREE with an adult.
A tiny slice of the creativity at the Craftsmen’s Fair
Artisans gather from across the nation to join with Gatlinburg’s own art community, which is itself the largest independent community of artisans in the country. As always, about 200 artisan booths display wares in one of the nation’s very best craft fairs, acclaimed and awarded year after year. Juries select exhibitors for only unique, hand-crafted work of exceptional quality, and filter to make sure there is no duplication with other exhibitors.
This all makes for a breathtaking range of things to see in the multi-storied, 150,000 square foot space of the Gatlinburg Convention Center. If you can’t manage it all in one day, take the Free Upgrade to your ticket and get the multi-day pass, good for all ten days of the show.
Practically every medium you can imagine is on display at the Fair, from glass and ceramics to metals and woods, from parchments and feathers to fabrics and leathers, and with flights of fancy very often looming too. Artisans are working at their booths, creating their wares as you watch, and very willing to share their skills with visitors, explaining the masterly techniques that go into achieving their artworks.
The ability to watch and talk directly with an artist is one of the great features of the Craftsmen’s Fair, and allows visitors to commission custom works for their unique requirements.
This super friendly show has live music at noon and 3 pm each day, with concessions stands throughout to keep you nourished as you explore. The popular Kids Korner offers hands-on experiences of many kinds for children – this is not a boring event for kids, it’s hugely engaging.
The Craftsmen’s Fair offers a way to pack in a week’s worth of trekking around galleries, all in one super show. Many people say they can do all their holiday shopping and gift giving for the whole year from one Fair. That’s a high compliment to he uniqueness of each handmade item, and the heirloom quality of the craft works.
So if you’re in town, or like many people coming into town specifically for this occasion, check out the 2021 Spring Craftsmen’s Fair.
The Gatlinburg Convention Center is at 234 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. For more information check the Craftsmen’s Fair website or call (865) 436-7479 – and see the Facebook page for some fabulous photos of some of the amazing pieces on display.
Images courtesy of Gatlinburg and the Craftsmen’s Fair
TIP: if the traffic concerns you getting to the location, be sure to check out our insider’s guide to Back Roads and Shortcuts – it might save you a little grief.
And for more happenings and venues, see what’s going on with Gatlinburg attractions and Pigeon Forge attractions.
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