village square ART & craft shows

SAT. & sUN.  June 1 & 2, 2013

August 24 & 25, 2013

10 AM to 5 PM

Talent abounds in these mountains, and great opportunities to see much of it on display will be at the Village Square Art and Craft Shows in downtown Highlands. These fun family events have something for everyone, including art and craft demonstrations, live music, face painting, and food.

Please note that these shows are no longer on the holiday weekends, due to a decision by our town board in June 2012.

 Over the years the show has developed a reputation for high quality work. The show features diverse offerings, including fine art and whimsical folk art, traditional mountain crafts, turned wood, metal work, fabric work, birdhouses, jewelry, and twig furniture. 

 Many of the artisans participating in the June show live here in Highlands, including painter Zach Claxton, potter Pat Taylor, jeweler (pearls & leather) Lee Byers, and baker/cook Maxine Davidoff.

Other vendors include:  Marcus Thomas (painter), Carol Rollick (photo collages), Vicky Ferguson (whimsical animal art), Clyde & Maranee Bowen (metal home & garden accessories), Michael Brown (vine baskets), Karen Dittman (folk art), Kristine Cooke (gold wire-wrapped gems), Rae Hancock (slate candles), Jan Kleinrath (canvas bags, hats), Mark Edge (jewelry), Amy Wald (wildlife paintings in rustic picture frames), Ron Thompson (turned wood), and Sue Weathers (painter).

The show features many traditional mountrain crafts: baskets, soap, quilts, twig furniture, and face jugs, as well as candles, weaving, turned wood and yard art.                                                                                                                                                                                     

Patti Cakes the clown will be painting faces, so bring the kids. There will be live music both days between 11 and 3:30. On Saturday June 1st singer-songwriter Sylvia Sammons will perform, and on Sunday,the park gazebo will ring with bluegrass music by the Ross Brothers (Haywood County). Sylvia, who is blind, has performed her folk music in Highlands for thirty years and enjoys a loyal following. She was renowned for her balcony concerts during the 20 years she operated Woodcraft in Highlands.

Plan on having breakfast or lunch at Fressers Eatery in the square. There are public bathrooms and parking on Pine Street. The event is free and goes from 10 to 5 on Saturday and Sunday in the Kelsey-Hutchinson Park and neighboring Highlands Village Square  at 5^th and Pine Streets, just one block from Main Street.

The Village Square shows are now sponsored by the Macon County Art Association, a non-profit group dedicating to promoting and teaching fine arts. The Assn. hosts the Uptown Gallery in downtown Franklin, so be sure to check out their wonderful offerings while you are in the area. Their website is: www.mcaauptowngallery.org

For more information contact show coordinator Cynthia Strain at Mill Creek Gallery and Framing (in the square) at (828) 787-2021 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it