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 2021
February 1-28, 2021: Arts & Crafts Antique Show and Conference Virtual Event
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. This is event is virtual this year. Read more about the Arts and Crafts Conference.
April 24, 2021: 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.
April 24, 2021: Greening Up the Mountains
Annual street festival in Sylva that features music, art, and craft. Read more about Greening Up the Mountain.
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.
May 7, 2021: Art After Dark
Galleries open late in downtown Waynesville with special events, shows, and music.
May 15, 2021: Open Studios Art Tour
The 10 resident artists at Grovewood Village open up their studios for visitors to gain insight into their creative process and view their most recent works. Tours are free and self-guided, 11 AM-4 PM. Adjacent to Grovewood Gallery. Read more about Grovewood Village.
May 29-30, 2021: 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 28-31, 2021: Garden Jubilee Festival Nurseries & Orchards Tour
Tour local nurseries and orchards throughout Henderson County! Buy plants, lawn and garden accessories, and arts & crafts. See our Hendersonville Guide.
May 29-30, 2021: Downtown Asheville Festival of the Arts
See 100+ artists on Lexington Avenue, free admission, 10 AM-5 PM.
June 4, 2021: Art After Dark
Galleries open late in downtown Waynesville with special events, shows, and music.
June 12, 2021: 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 art work, local crafts, vacation packages, and more. Begins at 10 AM, includes an array of delicious foods and ends with a square dance until dark.
June 12, 19 & 26, 2021: 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 18-20, 2021: Rhododendron Festivals
Celebration of the famous blooms at Roan Mountain with festivals in Bakersville and in Tennessee. Read more.
June 19, 2021: Open Studios Art Tour
The 10 resident artists at Grovewood Village open up their studios for visitors to gain insight into their creative process and view their most recent works. Tours are free and self-guided, 11 AM-4 PM. Adjacent to Grovewood Gallery. Read more about Grovewood Village.
June 18-19, 2021: Cherry Bounce Festival
Go to Forest City for music, crafts, food trucks and much more. See our guide.
July 2, 2021: Art After Dark
Galleries open late in downtown Waynesville with special events, shows, and music.
See July 4th Festivals. The top pick for art is Freedom Fest in Bryson City.
July 3-4, 2021: Art on the Greene
Meet 40+ artists with a big variety of top art in Banner Elk. Go to their Website.
July 10-11, 2021: Maggie Valley Summer Arts & Crafts Show
Find 100+ artisans from across the Southeast at the Festival Grounds. Read more about Maggie Valley.
July 17, 2021: 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.
July 17, 2021: Open Studios Art Tour at Grovewood Village
The 11 resident artists at Grovewood Village open up their studios for visitors to gain insight into their creative process and view their most recent works. Tours are free and self-guided, 11 AM-4 PM. Adjacent to Grovewood Gallery.
July 15-20, 2021: Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
This event is virtual! 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 22-24, 2021: Hillbilly Jam
Several dozen arts and crafts vendors help celebrate mountain country living at this fun festival in Maggie Valley. Go to our Hillbilly Jam Guide.
July 22-25, 2021: International Day Festival
This big street festival in downtown Waynesville is the ultimate cultural exchange with international and regional artwork, cuisine, dance, and music from Folkmoot USA. Dance lessons too! Go to our International Day Guide.
August 6, 2021: Art After Dark
Galleries open late in downtown Waynesville with special events, shows, and music.
August 6-7, 2021: 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 7-8, 2021: Art on the Greene
Meet 40+ artists with a big variety of top artists in Banner Elk. Go to their Website.
August 13-14, 2021: 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 13-14, 2021: 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 21-22, 2021: 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-6 PM. Go to their website.
August 21-22, 2021: 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! The 2020 event will be completely outdoors with plenty of room to spread out with sanitizing stations throughout the area. Please wear a mask and enjoy the show! Go to their website for details.
August 27-28, 2021: LEAF Downtown Asheville
An international music festival with plenty of art in Pack Square Park. Free. Read more about LEAF Downtown.
September 3-6, 2021: 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.
September 54-5, 2021: 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 4-5, 2021: Maggie Valley Summer Arts & Crafts Show
Find 100+ artisans from across the Southeast at the Festival Grounds. Read more about Maggie Valley.
September 10-11, 2021: Morganton Festival
This big festival includes four stages of music and plenty of fine arts and crafts. Go to their website.
September 18, 2021: 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 25, 2021: Art on the Island
A fun fair on Blannahassett Island in the French Broad River in Marshall. 10 AM-5 PM
September 25, 2021: 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 25-26, 2021: Art on Main
Stroll down the middle of downtown Hendersonville for plenty of art, 10 AM-5 PM. Find many downtown galleries too.
October 2, 2021: Colorfest
Dillsboro welcomes 40+ demonstrating artists along Front Street - plus many galleries to browse. Read more about Dillsboro.
October 2, 2021: Hilltop Fall Festival
This big street festival in downtown Rutherfordton has a big variety of crafts and art. See our Rutherfordton Guide.
October 2, 2021: Mars Hill Heritage & Music
Two festivals to celebrate mountain craft, music and dance, the Heritage Festival and the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Music Festival in downtown Mars Hill. 10 AM-4 PM.
October 2, 9 & 16, 2021: Asheville Art in the Park
See and buy fine arts and crafts from local artists at Pack Square Park in downtown. Read more about Art in the Park.
October 8-10, 2021: 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 9, 2021: 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 9, 2021: Mountain Glory Festival
The biggest festival of the year in Marion fills its Main Street with many vendors with art and craft. 9:30 AM-6 PM. Read more about Marion.
October 8-10, 2021: 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 14-17, 2021: 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 14-17, 2021: Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands
Held in downtown Asheville, the huge fair showcases work by hundreds of members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild. One of the top shows in the Southeast USA. Admission. See our Guide.
October 15-16, 2021: Harvest Festival
A showcase of traditional mountain life, held at the Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center, located near Fontana Lake and Robbinsville with best of Appalachian dance, music, food, arts and crafts. Read more!
October 16, 2021: Apple Harvest Festival
Plenty of crafts, music and apples in downtown Waynesville, 10 AM-5 PM. Read about Waynesville.
October 16-17, 2021: Lake Lure Autumn Arts 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.
October 16-17, 2021: Woolly Worm Festival
Race a worm and browse 100+ art and craft vendors in downtown Banner Elk. Admission. Read more.
October 16-17, 2021: Maggie Valley Arts & Crafts Show
Find 100 artisans and crafters outdoors at the Festival Grounds, 9 AM-4 PM. Free. Read about Maggie Valley.
October 23, 2021: North Carolina Ceramic Arts Festival
See ceramic artists from across the country in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville, 10 AM-5 PM.
October 30-31, 2021: Beaverdam Studio Tour
Meet 30 artists with ceramics, glass, fiber, photography, metal, mixed media, and sculpture in their studios in Beaverdam Valley in North Asheville. Go to their Web site.
November 20-21, 2021: Marshall Handmade Market
Indoor show at the Marshall High Studios on Blannahassatt Island. 10 AM-5 PM. See our Marshall Guide.
December 3, 2021: Art After Dark
Galleries open late in downtown Waynesville with special events, shows, and music.
Also see more events and festivals for Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall and the Holidays.
