The 68th Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands takes place at the U.S. Cellular Center in downtown Asheville, July 16-19 and October 15-18, 2015.

Nearly 200 juried artists of the Southern Highland Craft Guild will be selling works of clay, metal, wood, jewelry, fiber, paper, natural materials, leather and mixed media. With styles ranging from traditional to contemporary, the Fairs showcase the rich talent, diversity and craft mastery of Guild members.

The Craft Fairs have a proud tradition and history of excellence by representing the Southern Highland Craft Guild, a non-profit organization formed in 1930. The Fairs began in 1948 as a way to provide a regional market for the mountain craftspeople. Since that time, the Craft Fairs have set the standard for fine craft shows across the country.

Each year in July and October craft collectors and gallery owners from across the country come to Asheville to see the show. They are joined by western North Carolina residents and tourists who appreciate the quality and history of the show, knowing it is an ideal destination for shopping and inspiration.

Nearly 20,000 visitors to the Fairs each year invest in the regional and local economies while supporting artists working in the Appalachian mountains, and by spending a summer or fall weekend in beautiful Asheville, NC.

In addition to providing a retail market for juried members, the Guild hosts craft demonstrations during the Fairs. A strong part of the Guild’s mission is to educate the public about the history of crafts in this region, various craft techniques, and an appreciation for fine crafts. The July show features wet felting, sunprinting, natural dyeing, bamboo fly rods and blacksmithing. Visit www.craftguild.org for a complete list of scheduled craft demonstrations.

Beginning on Friday during each Craft Fair, mountain musicians perform live on the arena stage. Since the first fair in Gatlinburg in 1948, the music of the area has been woven into the fabric of the Craft Fair experience. From old time to bluegrass, this tradition is kept alive today. Visit www.craftguild.org for a complete list of performances.

Jan Davidson, Director of the John C. Campbell Folk School, stated, “Creating a world in which craft and other native talents can flourish – this is the Guild’s legacy. The craftspeople of Southern Appalachia are always aware of tradition and forever renewing themselves from the old sources of nature, family, spiritual life and the desire to share one’s gifts with others.”

The Southern Highland Craft Guild is a non-profit, educational organization established in 1930 with headquarters at the Folk Art Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Asheville. The Guild region covers the mountain counties of nine southeastern states from Maryland to Alabama, representing more than 900 craftspeople.

The Craft Fairs are one of the ways in which the Guild fulfills its mission, which is to bring together the crafts and craftspeople of the Southern Highlands for the benefit of shared resources, education, marketing, and conservation.

More information at www.craftguild.org or phone (828) 298-7928.

If You Go: The 68th Annual Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands, July 16–19 at the US Cellular Center, 87 Haywood St. in downtown Asheville. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission: Adults $8, Children under 12 free, Group discounts available.