Foothills Craft Fair at Blue Ridge BBQ Festival

The Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival, held this year on June 11 and 12 at Harmon Field in Tryon, NC, has become one of the finest food festivals in the country. Interestingly, one of the main reasons for this is that it’s not just about food. One component that helps sets the event apart from other outdoor food festivals is its prestigious arts and crafts show, the Foothills Craft Fair. In its fourteenth year, this fair has become known for the range and quality of items for sale. The show is juried to bring the best contemporary and traditional crafts as well as fine art.

Kelly Sparks, Crafts Fair chair, said that approximately 50 artisans from all across the Southeast will be showing and selling their work at this year’s event. Among them will be basket weavers from Kingsport, Tennessee, a creator of beautiful wall hangings in metal and glass from Ocala, Florida, and a number of talented crafters from the local area. “There will be works in a broad range of media including wood, stone, metal, fabric, leather, glass, basketry, and clay, and others I probably failed to mention,” Sparks said. “Products include furniture, jewelry, pottery, walking sticks, sculpture, paintings, candles, soaps silk flower arrangements, cutting boards, and many more.”

Since each item must be hand made by the exhibiting artisan, the Foothills Craft Fair presents a great opportunity for visitors to talk to exhibitors and learn about the artistic process. Some crafters demonstrate their skills while at the Fair, and many are willing accept special orders.

Though the Foothills Craft Fair is a relatively small show, it has established a reputation for quality, variety, and accessibility. Visitors wander in and out of the exhibitor booths set under huge trees along the Pacolet River and find excellent pieces at affordable prices. According to Sparks, the Foothills jury process has been quite successful in producing not only wide range of products, but also extremely high-quality artisans. Artists and craftsmen understand that their works should be priced to sell and, as a result, this Fair tends to please both exhibitors and attendees.

One exhibitor of note at this year’s Fair is Julie McIntyre, of Tryon, who is returning to the Festival as a participant after five years of serving as Chairperson of the Crafts Fair. “The quality of the Craft Fair has been steadily improving, so I am grateful that I met the high standards required by the jury committee,” she said.

Julie makes and sells finished jewelry as well as lampworked art beads for jewelry artists to use in their own creations. In her “day job,” she is an architect, and her work projects often take months or years to complete; whereas making glass beads and finished jewelry yields immediate fulfillment. Julie says she is looking forward to seeing all her past customers and meeting new ones.

The Festival also includes a fantastic lineup of music, a Kids Fun Park with carnival rides and games and, of course, outstanding barbecue with all the trimmings. Gates open at 3 pm on Friday and at 10 am on Saturday, closing at 11 pm both nights. Admission is $7.00 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Admission incudes shuttle parking and all live entertainment. On Friday, Seniors receive a two-for-the-price-of-one discount all day, and kids can have unlimited rides for $10.00 from 3 pm until 7 pm. Visit www.BlueRidgeBBQFestival.com for more information and to get a coupon good for $1.00 off Friday’s admission.

The Blue Ridge Barbecue & Music Festival is conducted annually under the auspices of the Carolina Foothills Chamber of Commerce. Some of the proceeds from the Festival help support Chamber operations and any additional funds go to the Chamber Foundation to be returned to the community through dgrants to a variety of programs and projects throughout the county. Funds are generated by a modest admission fee, contestant entry fees and sponsorships.