Village Square Art & Craft Show

From Village Square Art & Craft Show Website:

Everyone loves an art and craft show, and is it any wonder? They are places where color and creativity meet up with talent, skill and originality. Throw in some good food and mountain music, and you have the makings of a memorable experience.

You will find it all at the Village Square Art & Craft Shows in the cool mountain town of Highlands, NC. Dates for 2015 are June 20 and 21 (Father's Day weekend) and August 29 and 30 (the weekend before Labor Day weekend).

Sponsored by the Macon County Art Association, there are many fine art originals and prints to choose from. You will also find jewelry, pottery, weaving, metalwork, woodwork and other high quality crafts for the home and garden. The show features only local and regional artisans.

This is our 10th year, and the shows continue to attract new artisans as well as many loyal shoppers. One show favorite is Amy Wald, who fashions large, artistic picture frames out of branches and slabs of wood that are perfect for your mountain cabin. You will find beautiful turned wood pieces by Highlands' own Donald Krebs as well as John Benton and Brian Sykes. Skip Staab makes pottery, including facejugs, and twig furniture. Lee Byers of Highlands creates beautiful jewelry out of leather and pearls. Mike Murphy and Judy Buuci make decorative clay Ikebana vases. And a local couple, Shaun and Cat Mackey create beautiful hand-made copper chandeliers and sconces ("Garland Originals").

You will also find teas, lotions, birdhouses, leather bags, children's and doll clothing, jewelry, baskets, rock candles, cement mushrooms and birdbaths, canvas hats & bags, photography, log or slab benches/tables, carved soapstone, and more. Just check out the picture gallery to see some of them. With around 70 vendors you will be sure to find something special.

The shows are held in downtown Highlands at Kelsey-Hutchinson Park and neighboring Village Square, only one block from Main Street. If you have trouble finding it, see if you can find the Catholic Church or Macon Bank, you'll find the show (the town won't allow us to put out signs, sorry). Parking will be spotty, but you can always find a spot at the Rec Park, just 2 blocks away.

A complete menu of food and drinks are available at Fressers Courtyard Cafe in the Village Square. Show hours are Saturday and Sunday 10a.m. to 5 p.m., and admission is FREE. Children and dogs are welcome!

There will be live music from 11 to 3 both days.

There are a lot of changes happening in the park--restrooms being built, a new large stage, landscaping, and the addition of picnic tables. The town has also acquired the property next door. The office building has been taken down, and that lot will also be landscaped. Pine Street will be raised up to the same level as the park so that it will be one continuous area. The street will be able to be closed and incorporated into events more easily that way, but it will negatively impact parking and traffic. However, it should all be good in the end.