Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Heritage Days

Nestled into an eight-mile loop of Smoky Mountain beauty and nostalgia are more than ninety quaint shops and restaurants known as the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community. Situated on the northeast edge of Gatlinburg, this area is the only zoned crafts community in the United States. During the weeks of September 30 through October 8, visitors to this community will experience "another time and place" as they enjoy the Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Heritage Days Festival, a celebration of Smoky Mountain history, culture, and arts and crafts.

Visitors may whet their appetites at live demonstrations of candy-making, watch as ordinary pieces of wood are turned into works of art by whittlers and woodcarvers, and marvel at the intricate handiwork of mountain artisans as they handle the delicate tasks of quilting, broom making, and pottery-throwing. From there, visitors can relax in the candle shop showroom while hot wax dries in beautiful shapes around cotton wicks that have been hand-dipped in large vats. Visits to over 90 shops will fill shopping bags with traditional and contemporary crafts, handmade gifts, collectibles, and one-of-a-kind pieces. Trolleys will run their regular schedules to shuttle guests from Gatlinburg to the Arts & Crafts Community.