Arts, Crafts & Music Event Opens July 10th
Americana Hand-Painted Signs
Event Ranked 5th in the Nation Opens July 10th
“Obviously, everyone is really talented. But my favorite part is how excited the vendors are to talk about what they do and how they do it. So friendly. I learned a lot and left inspired. Got some of my Christmas shopping done. The event is well-organized, too.” – Hope McGhee Hammond recommends Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair.
We are ready to celebrate summer with you!
Now celebrating our 45th year, the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair opens our summer event Friday, July 10th and continues through Sunday, July 19th at the Gatlinburg Convention Center. With increasing numbers of visitors to Gatlinburg and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, this Fair is expected to see a huge rise in interest and participation by makers and patrons alike.
The surging interest in handmade products among Gen X, millennials and post-millennials, has been driving more visitors to our event along with patrons finding increasingly desirable products and demonstrations offered by our artists, craftsmen, and makers. This summer patrons will be treated to even more new creations, handmade by skilled art and craft makers coming from across the nation.
“The [Gatlinburg] Craftsmen’s Fair is a well juried event and ensures a consistency of quality, and design uniqueness of the crafters who portray a level of professionalism and commitment to the crafting industry. This is the ‘nicest’ craft fairs I participate in with organizers and support from people who truly care about our welfare and success.” – Fiona Thompson, Elegant EarCuffs & More by Fiona
Now ranked 2nd and 5th in the nation, Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair events offer unique and one-of-a-kind handmade products beautifully displayed in 150 or more booths, many with demonstrations by the artisans. All items represented are handmade and of utmost quality and without duplication. Look for exceptional pottery pieces, stained glass, copper art, local candy makers, unique, handmade jewelry, décor, and many more unique items.
Spun Gold Originals
The Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair is open daily 10 am to 5 pm from July 10-19, 2020, at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, near traffic light number 8 on the Parkway in downtown Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
Daily music shows are included with the price of admission at 12 and 3, except on the last day. This July we are welcoming back a renowned and local, acoustic bluegrass band, Misty River, and The Dennis Lee Band, featuring contemporary country, bluegrass, patriotic, and your favorite gospel tunes. Joining the musical lineup this year is Monroeville, offering original, multi-faceted blends of energetic country, folk, bluegrass, and alternative music.
Concessions are available for sale through the Gatlinburg Convention Center and provided by Holston’s Kitchen of Sevierville, TN.
We support Smoky Mountain Resort Ministries and their ongoing service to our visiting artisans, patrons, and travelers from all over the world visiting our area.
This year we are providing free take-home craft kits for children, and a daily give-away.
“We like being able to craft something with our hands and have our family with us 24/7. Our family life is very important to us. Our kids have grown up in this business, and in turn it has made them hard workers themselves.” – Joe & Cassie Nelson, Fox Creek Baskets
Voted one of the Southeast’s Most Popular Events, our Fair is recommended for families, couples, and anyone with an appreciation for the best, most unique gifts available anywhere.
“From someone who was told that by an exhibitor who had done it for years, we are sorry we didn’t do it sooner! Gatlinburg is wonderful, as are the folks who work there. No matter which shop or restaurant, they always let you know they are glad you are there, but, if you want to be spoiled as an exhibitor, be a part of the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair.” – Connie Starkey, First Glass
Handmade Accessories for Chillers & Bottles
Opening each day at 10 am, the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair usually takes a few hours to see. If you don’t quite get through it all, multi-day tickets are available at the Craftsmen’s Fair office located at the end of aisle 600. For July’s 10 days, the cost is only $3 for as many returns as you can enjoy! Watch our Facebook page for special announcements, and visit our website, CraftsmenFair.com, for a searchable directory and more.
Our October and July Fairs of 2018 were voted the 2nd and 5th Best Classic and Contemporary Craft Fairs in the nation by professional artists and craftsmen, according to Sunshine Artist magazine. (Standings determined for 2019 are not yet published).
Most of the participants in this Fair are full time professionals able to dedicate a great length of time to making and exhibiting at this 10-day fair. Shorter periods of five days are available, but most of the exhibitors and demonstrators set up shop indoors for the duration and say they just enjoy interacting with customers.
“The American craftsmen is how this country started! We need it to be strong to continue to be part of keeping this country so special.” – Rosalyn Rego-Sharpe, Designs by Rego
Fox Creek Split-Wood Baskets
“We have tremendous respect for the talents and work ethic of all these people we are privileged to work with filling the [150,000 square feet of downtown’s] Gatlinburg Convention Center twice each year,” said Kelly Rusk, co-promoter [with Jeff Rusk] of the Fair. “The Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair can only have the reputation it does through the ongoing creativity and hard work of these artisans from all over the nation who choose to exhibit here again and again, for 45 years now. The fair’s reputation, established by the Reagans and the Larges before us, is a high mark we strive towards as the new promoters and owners.”
“The main reason I like [The Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair] is that it’s one big family, and we all get along (most of time); it’s fun, I enjoy it.” – Clay Thurston, Wildlife Photography
For more information about Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair, visit our website: CraftsmenFair.com; or email us: [email protected]. You may also view videos on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, as well as our website.
We want to assure visitors that safe practices are being developed and revised as recommendations evolve.
Members of management from the Gatlinburg Convention Center helped Governor Bill Lee write the recommendations for operations of events in convention centers in Tennessee. Among many other things, the Gatlinburg Convention Center has gone above and beyond, for example, installing state-of-the-art foggers in bathrooms designed to sanitize contact surfaces.
Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair will post practices we are implementing, from hand sanitizer stations, to protective barriers at ticket areas, and plenty of space for our patrons to enjoy browsing with their own group, interacting with artisans on their own terms, and enjoying the free daily music shows included with their entry ticket. Look for these at the event, and on our website and social media postings.
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