101 Unique Things to Do in Asheville NC & Western NC
If you love art festivals in Asheville and the surrounding small towns in our Blue Ridge Mountains, this is for you! The western North Carolina art scene is booming, and we are consistently voted one of the biggest art destinations in the country. Each year, more artist studio tours, events, and shows appear. Most are free to attend! Plan your next trip to the Blue Ridge Mountains around one of these.
For the best places to find art any day of the year, see our Asheville Gallery Guide or visit the Folk Art Center with rotating exhibitions. Plus, check out the many artist studios in the River Arts District and the top stops on the Blue Ridge Craft Trails.
Asheville Art & Crafts Events & Festivals Calendar 2024
February 16-18, 2024: Arts & Crafts Antique Show and Conference
For the past nineteen years, Arts and Crafts enthusiasts—including new collectors, curators, authors, builders, designers, and bungalow owners—have traveled to the Blue Ridge Mountains and The Grove Park Inn for this show. Read more about the Arts and Crafts Conference.
First Fridays: Downtown Asheville Art Walk
(First Friday of Every Month, April-December) Visit 25 galleries, museums, and jewelry studios within a walkable half-mile radius of downtown, 5-8 PM. See our Asheville Gallery Guide.
April 27, 2024: Greening Up the Mountains
Annual street festival in Sylva that features music, art, and craft. Read more about Greening Up the Mountain.
April 27-28, 2024: Weaverville Art Safari
Visit 50+ artists in their studios and galleries throughout the small towns of Weaverville and Barnardsville on a self-guided tour. 10 AM-5 PM. Read more about Weaverville Art Safari.
April 27, 2024: Fire on the Mountain
Held in Downtown Spruce Pine from 10 AM-4 PM featuring vendors, live demonstrations, hands-on tent with rotating teachers, and visiting blacksmiths from around the region and country.
May 3, 2024: Art After Dark
Galleries stay open late in downtown Waynesville with special events, shows, and music. Events happen on the first Friday of the month from May to December.
May 11, 2024: Lake Lure Arts & Crafts Spring Festival
See handmade creations from more than 60 artisans from across the region. Free admission. Across from The Beach at Lake Lure, 2771 Memorial Highway. Go to our Lake Lure Guide.
May 18, 2024: Saluda Arts Festival
Outstanding festival with 100% hand-picked regional artists along Saluda's historic Main Street. See a big diversity of art media and enjoy music representing Americana, blues, folk and contemporary. Watch artist demonstrations. Free. 10 AM-4 PM. Read more about Saluda Arts Festival.
May 25-26: Art on the Greene
Buy art and support the restoration of the historic school in Banner Elk. Find a big variety of artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry, and more. 10 AM-5 PM.
May 25-26, 2024: Garden Jubilee Festival
Shop from more than 200 plant and craft vendors lining Main Street in Hendersonville. Friday-Sunday, 9 AM-5 PM. Buy plants, lawn and garden accessories, and arts & crafts. Read more.
June 8, 15, 22, 2024: Asheville Art in the Park
See and buy fine arts and crafts from dozens of local artists at Pack Square Park in downtown. Read more about Art in the Park.
June 2024: Bluff Mountain Festival
This free, family-friendly festival in Hot Springs features great old-time and bluegrass music, ballads, clogging and square dance, and a silent auction and raffle of regional artwork, local crafts, vacation packages, and more. 10AM-6PM, includes an array of delicious foods, and ends with a square dance until dark.
June 7-8, 2024: Cherry Bounce Festival
Go to Forest City for music, crafts, food trucks and much more. See our guide.
June 21-22, 2024: Rhododendron Festivals
Celebration of the famous blooms at Roan Mountain with festivals in Bakersville and in Tennessee. Read more.
June 2024: Blue Ridge Heritage Weekend
Don't miss this craft fair held on the farm grounds of the Shelton House Museum of NC Handicrafts with artists, crafters, barn exhibits, music, and food trucks! Go to their website for details.
July 4, 2024: See July 4th Festivals. The top pick for art is Freedom Fest in Bryson City.
July 6-7, 2024: Maggie Valley Summer Arts & Crafts Show
Find 100+ artisans from across the Southeast at the Festival Grounds. Read more about Maggie Valley.
July 6-7: Art on the Greene
Buy art and support the restoration of the historic school in Banner Elk. Find a big variety of artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry, and more. 10 AM-5 PM.
July 20, 2024: Front Street Arts & Crafts Show
A variety of artisans come to the artsy village of Dillsboro, complete with music and food. 10 AM-4 PM.
August 17-18, 2024: Come to Leicester Studio Tour
Take a free, self-guided tour to 20+ studios and shops in Leicester, a community nestled in the mountains near Asheville. A detailed tour map will be available at every tour stop. 10 AM-5 PM. Go to their website.
July 18-21, 2024: Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
Find the best-juried work by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, with members throughout the mountain regions of nine states. Admission. Read more about the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands.
July 26-27, 2024: Hillbilly Jam
Several dozen arts and crafts vendors help celebrate mountain country living at this fun festival in Maggie Valley. 10 AM-10 PM. $10/person. Go to our Hillbilly Jam Guide.
August 2-3, 2024: Mt. Mitchell Crafts Fair
The streets of Burnsville are packed for this longtime, highly popular gathering of artists. Quality crafters display hand-made furniture, wrought iron, blown glass, beaded jewelry, locally-made quilts, homemade jams, and jellies. See our Mt Mitchell Crafts Fair Guide.
August 3-4: Art on the Greene
Buy art and support the restoration of the historic school in Banner Elk. Find a big variety of artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry, and more. 10 AM-5 PM.
August 9-10, 2024: Waldensian Festival
The small town of Valdese near Morganton has a big street festival with plenty of crafts and arts. Read more about Valdese.
August 10-11, 2024: Sourwood Festival
200 vendors with original art and gifts at this free street festival in downtown Black Mountain to celebrate bees and honey. Read more.
August 30-September 2, 2024: NC Apple Festival
Head to downtown Hendersonville for a four-day celebration with a collection of events with plenty of apples, apple treats, art, and entertainment. See our NC Apple Festival Guide.
Aug. 31-Sept. 1, 2024: Maggie Valley Summer Arts & Crafts Show
Find 100+ artisans from across the Southeast at the Festival Grounds. Read more about Maggie Valley.
August 31-September 1, 2024: Art on the Greene
Buy art and support the restoration of the historic school in Banner Elk. Find a big variety of artists working with metal, glass, pottery, wood, jewelry, and more. 10 AM-5 PM.
September 2024: Art in Autumn
Fun outdoor arts and crafts festival in Weaverville that includes 100 juried artists, food, and live music. Free admission and parking. Just 7 miles north of downtown Asheville. Read more about Art in Autumn.
September 28, 2024: Mountain Heritage Day
Outdoor festival at Western Carolina University with sights, sounds, and flavors of yesteryear. Appalachian music and 80 booths of regional art and crafts. Read more about Mountain Heritage.
September 2024: Art on the Island
A fun fair on Blannahassett Island in the French Broad River in Marshall. 10 AM-5 PM
October 5, 2024: Colorfest
Dillsboro welcomes 40+ demonstrating artists along Front Street—plus many galleries to browse. Read more about Dillsboro.
October 5, 12, 19, 2024: Asheville Art in the Park
See and buy fine arts and crafts from dozens of local artists at Pack Square Park in downtown. Read more about Art in the Park.
October 2024: Hilltop Fall Festival
This big street festival in downtown Rutherfordton has a big variety of crafts and art. See our Rutherfordton Guide.
October 11-13, 2024: Cashiers Valley Leaf Festival
Held on the beautiful Village Green and Commons during peak color, with 100 artisans and merchants with unique handcrafted wood, pottery, jewelry, and much more. Live music. Read about Cashiers.
October 12, 2024: Church Street Art & Craft Show
Main Street in downtown Waynesville is transformed into an art & craft marketplace for this one-day event; widely known as one of the finest juried art shows in the region. Live mountain music & clogging, entertainment, food. 10 AM-5 PM.
October 12-13, 2024: Spruce Pine Potter's Market
This unique gathering of the region’s greatest potters and clay artists features wonderful food and beautiful handmade pottery at the historic 31 Cross Street Building in downtown Spruce Pine.
October 17-20, 2024: LEAF Festival
Celebrate music, discover community, and experience culture in a beautiful lakefront setting near Black Mountain. 5 Stages of Folk & World, Bluegrass, Blues, African, Celtic and jams with headline performers. Handcrafts, folk art, dancing, Poetry SLAM, healing arts workshops, and camping. See our LEAF Guide.
October 17-20, 2024: Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
Find the best-juried work by members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, with members throughout the mountain regions of nine states. Admission. Read more about the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands.
October 19, 2024: Apple Harvest Festival
Plenty of crafts, music, and apples in downtown Waynesville, 10 AM-5 PM. Read about Waynesville.
October 19-20, 2024: Woolly Worm Festival
Race a worm and browse 100+ art and craft vendors in downtown Banner Elk. Admission. Read more.
Oct. 19-20, 2024: Maggie Valley Fall Arts & Crafts Show
Find 100 artisans and crafters outdoors at the Festival Grounds, 9 AM-4 PM. Free. Read about Maggie Valley.
October 2024: North Carolina Ceramic Arts Festival
See ceramic artists from across the country in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, 10 AM-5 PM.
Also see more events and festivals for Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall and the Holidays.
