If you like to browse and shop for arts and crafts items, early Spring is a good time to visit Gatlinburg, Tennessee. This is when the annual Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show takes place. Whether you are looking for a thoughtful gift, items to enhance your own home or simply want to browse and appreciate the skills it takes to produce unique crafts, this is your chance to see the work of more than 100 artists and artisans as Spring and Easter approach.
The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community
The Great Smoky Mountains and Appalachians is a region that’s rich in history and traditional crafts. Many residents carry on this tradition and make arts and crafts that visitors can admire and purchase. The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, the largest group of independent artisans in North America, gives you many ways to appreciate the skills of these artists.
The wares of these skilled artisans are on display throughout the year in local shops and art galleries. Just three miles from downtown Gatlinburg is the 8 Mile Trail Loop, which consists of dozens of shops and galleries featuring paintings, pottery, holiday gifts, candles, handcrafted tools, glassworks and much more. Many visitors to the Smoky Mountains spend hours on this Loop checking out the fascinating items on display. The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community also puts on special events where you can see all of these arts and crafts in one location. One of these events is the Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show.
What You’ll Find at the Easter Crafts Fair
In addition to seeing lots of arts and crafts on display, there will be demonstrations where you can see how various crafts are made. There will be artisans displaying their skills at arts such as weaving, wood carving, pottery and making jewelry, textiles, birdhouses and lots of other items. The fair will also have antiques and vintage items on display. There will be food as well, including delicious honey, fudge, jellies and other local specialties.
Spring is a popular time to visit the Great Smoky Mountains, as flowers and trees are starting to bloom. As temperatures climb, this is the perfect time to enjoy the natural beauty of this region and go on some scenic drives or hikes. It’s also one of the best times to see some of the area’s best arts and crafts. The Great Smoky Easter Arts & Crafts Show takes place from March 24-26, 2016 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in downtown Gatlinburg. Admission is free.