Asheville, NC – In its 71st year, the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands returns to downtown Asheville’s U.S. Cellular Center this Friday, October 19 through Sunday, October 21. Filling both the concourse and arena levels of the venue, makers exhibit a variety of craft ranging from contemporary to traditional in works of clay, wood, metal, glass, fiber, natural materials, paper, leather, mixed media, and jewelry.

This year’s featured maker is woodworker Steve Noggle from Morganton, NC. A degree in forestry landed him in the Pacific Northwest as a timber cruiser. Shortly after, he discovered the art of crafting fine, wooden furniture. While engineering new designs, Steve began to turn wood on a lathe. In 2004, Steve juried into the Southern Highland Craft Guild as a master of woodturning. Today, each of his pieces is spun from a chunk of wet, green wood into a bowl or vessel with a satin finish that is pleasing to the eye. Celebrate his talent with us this year at the Craft Fair of the Southern Highlands!

This October we have 170 makers that will be on both levels of the U.S. Cellular Center. Go online to view the map of the Exhibitor area. In our Educational Displays section on the Arena floor, interact with various ongoing craft demonstrations such as pottery, doll making and more.

Our demonstrators for October are the following:

Jeffrey Neil, wooden shaker boxes; John Turner, raku glazing; Lesley Keeble, doll making; The Village Potters, wheel-throwing and hand-building; Marjorie Warren, tartan weaving; NC ABANA, blacksmithing; Joanna White, silk painting, and Tamela Wells, polymer clay & metalsmithing.

There’s a stellar lineup of musicians throughout the weekend that will be playing on the stage on the Arena floor. Be sure to sit for a spell to listen to the mountain music. Schedule as follows:

Friday, October 19
11am, Cary Fridley Music & Down South; 1pm, Carol Rifkin; 3pm, Hot Duck Soup.

Saturday, October 20
11am, Smoky Mountain Rhythm; 1pm, Split Rail Bluegrass; 3pm, Jonah Riddle & Carolina Express.

Sunday, October 21
11am, Honey Holler; 1pm, Sherri Lynn and Friends; 3pm, Buncombe Turnpike.

Asheville is full of eclectic and charming abodes for your stay. You can browse various accommodation options based on the region, amenities and more here via ExploreAsheville.com. For walking to the Fair, we recommend looking at the hotels located in the downtown district of Asheville.

Here are several options that will provide transportation or help with parking options in Asheville: Uber, Lyft, Asheville Taxi and the Passport Parking App.

Asheville City Parking Map, http://bit.ly/2vkKXVG

Asheville Parking Garages, http://bit.ly/2v0d9xY

Asheville Street Parking, 700 metered spaces, $1.50 per hour and FREE on Sunday.

Please note that the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce also have available parking for visitors.

Friday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm and Sunday, 10am to 5pm.

US Cellular Center, 87 Haywood Street, Downtown Asheville, NC. General Admission, $8 and Children under 12 free. Online at www.southernhighlandguild.org.

PHOTOS: Chair by Brian Brace; Jewelry by Jason Janow.