Gatlinburg Artisans Display Their Wares

There’s a stretch of road in Gatlinburg that is home to the largest group of independent artisans in North America. The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community encompasses an 8-mile loop that has been designated a Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail. Since its foundation in 1937, this community has everything associated with arts and crafts – candles, quilts, brooms, pottery, jewelry, photography, art, ceramics, dolls, stained glass, leather, silver smithing, etc. And for a weekend in April, you can see what the members have to offer at one location.

The Great Smoky Mountain
Arts & Crafts Show is April 5 – 7 at the Gatlinburg Convention Center.
Admission is free. Local artists and craftsmen sell their work in a relaxed
atmosphere. There are so many booths, you’ll be glad there is food and drink
available to refresh you. The cool thing is that you can meet and talk with
them to learn how they do the things they do. Many will actually be working on
projects. When you’re finished at the show, you can head over to the Arts &
Crafts Community and see where the more than 100 artisans work. There is also
lodging, restaurants, candy shops, soda fountains, cafes, etc., in the loop, so
don’t worry if you decide you need to stick around for a few days. East
Tennessee has a rich heritage and the best way to discover that heritage is to
see the arts and crafts handed down for generations. The Arts & Crafts
Community is a great way to learn about the history of the Smoky Mountains and
support talented local artists and craftsmen.