Gatlinburg is home to a wonderful arts and crafts community that welcomes thousands of visitors each year. Whether you’re driving around the loop in the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community or are attending the annual Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair, there are plenty of opportunities to see art from local craftsmen. To help you learn more, we’ve made a list of 4 things to know about arts and crafts in Gatlinburg and the Smokies.
1. Annual Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair
As most seasoned Gatlinburg visitors know, the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair is one of the biggest events in Gatlinburg. It became so popular that now there are two each year, one in the summer and one in the fall. The summer fair takes place in July and has more than 180 booths from artisans all across the United States. You’ll get to watch as the craftsmen demonstrate their skills, answer any questions and offer their art for sale. The Fall Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair takes place in October and features more than 200 craftsmen from across the United States. Like the July Fair, the artists will demonstrate their craft, answer questions and offer their art for sale. For those of you who have not had the opportunity to attend this event, you should definitely check it out! It takes place at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.
2. Gatlinburg Arts & Crafts Community
In addition to the annual Craftsmen’s Fairs, Gatlinburg is also home to North America’s largest group of independent artisans. The Arts and Crafts Community is home to more than 100 artists and craftsmen. Along the 8 mile loop road, you can see a variety of items, from ceramics, to dulcimers, to stuffed animals. There are carvers, weavers, watercolor artists, casters, potters and dozens more. All of the artisans in the community are happy to demonstrate their abilities to the thousands of visitors and talk about the history of their craft. You’ll also find a variety of eaters along the loop, like Glades Soda Fountain and Fox & Parrot Tavern.
3. Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Gatlinburg is also home to the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. This is the oldest craft school in Tennessee! For more than 100 years, artisans from around the world have come here for classes in painting, glass blowing, photography and more. The school offers more than 130 classes in contemporary arts and crafts. Arrowmont offers an opportunity for people of all skill levels to learn and perfect their craft. It’s open year round, and classes are offered from March through November. The school also serves as a cultural center in the community. If you’re interested in learning more about art, this is the place to visit!
4. Shops Around Gatlinburg
Gatlinburg is home to numerous galleries and shops where you can find work from famous artisans. Take a stroll through The Village in Gatlinburg to visit a number of unique shops and galleries. Celtic Heritage features gifts imported from Ireland, including wool sweaters, shirts, jewelry and more. Master’s Editions os a fine art gallery that has paintings from Robert Finale, Mark Keathley, Abraham Hunter and more. Other shops where you can find arts and crafts in Gatlinburg are Buie Pottery, Foxcreek Baskets and Firefly Glass Studio. Love pottery? Check out these pottery shops in the Smoky Mountains.
No matter what time of year you decide to visit, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to see the arts and crafts in Gatlinburg and the Great Smokies. When you visit, stay close to the Arts & Crafts Community in one of our Gatlinburg cabins. Browse our great selection of cabin rentals and choose the best one for your stay.
