Gatlinburg Gears Up for Mountains of Festival Fun

Arts and crafts have long held a deep association with the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Nowhere else in the South will you find a richer heritage of fine craftsmanship than in Gatlinburg. The Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community, established in 1937, is the largest group of independent artisans in North America. Located on an eight-mile loop at the northeast corner of Gatlinburg, the Community proudly preserves the craft heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains year-round. This area offers the best in a wide range of craft shops, including pottery, woodcarving, candle making, quilting, weaving, broom making, and painting, among many other fine art forms.

Gatlinburg also is home to the world-renowned Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Founded in 1945, Arrowmont offers summer and spring workshops and an array of special conferences for all levels of students in craft-art media. The art galleries at Arrowmont are open for tours of select collections throughout the year.

From October 5 through 22, the award-winning Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair opens the doors of the Gatlinburg Convention Center to the public with the 31st Annual Fall Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair. Promoters Sam and Tracey Large have developed an event that consistently attracts the country's finest craft people. In fact, the popularity and reputation of the Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair have become so widespread that, for the seventh year in a row, it is recognized by the Southeast Tourism Society as one of the Top 20 Events in the Southeastern United States. Arts, crafts, and music-lovers will find over 180 booths featuring some of the nation's finest work. Numerous artisans and craftspeople are on-hand each day to demonstrate their skills, answer questions, and offer their unique art for sale. .