The 28th Annual Hard Candy Christmas Arts & Crafts Show is a mountain Christmas tradition.

Held the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving , this year’s show takes place November 27-28, 2015 from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. The event is held inside the spacious Ramsey Center on the Western Carolina University campus in Cullowhee.

This year’s featured artist is North Carolina craftsman William McKinnis of the Country Tin Shoppe in Winston Salem. He has been preserving the vanishing art of tin smithing for 12 years. His custom pieces include a variety of handcrafted lanterns, candleholders, and ornaments that would have been found in early American homes. He also creates ‘strip art’ that portrays holiday themes.

100 other craftsmen and artists will be joining Bill for this much anticipated art and craft show.

Customers looking for handcrafted gifts at great prices are always happy to see what their favorite potters, woodcrafters, and glass artists have created for the year.

They come early looking for knitted winter wear and something snuggly for the new grandchild. There will be plenty of stocking stuffers, speciality sweets, and designer jewelry. Ornament collectors can always find a unique santa, snowman, or angel.

The A&E Tree Farm will be selling fresh evergreen wreaths and table arrangements, as well as trees. The mountain bee keeper has candles, ornaments, and farm fresh honey. Ronnie Evans will be strumming the favorite carols we grew up with and selling his cd’s for holiday listening.

If You Go: Hard Candy Christmas Arts & Crafts Show, November 27-28, 2015 from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. Admission is $4.50 for adults. Children under 12 free. Concessions will be available. Free, convenient parking. Held at WCU’s Ramsey Center in Cullowhee. For more details call Doris Hunter, (828) 524-3405, or visit www.MountainArtisans.net.