You know who you are—our treasured Cabins for YOU guest who values your grandmother’s old sewing machine more than her diamond earrings, or who has an entire room in your house dedicated to yarns and fabrics, or who is more comfortable in your paint-stained overalls than just about anything else. Whatever your craft of choice, this blog is for you!
But even if you aren’t crafty yourself, you can still appreciate these craft-tastic events coming up in Gatlinburg: the Fall Craftsmen’s Fair and the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show. You don’t have to know how to paint to take home a gorgeous, hand-painted vase, portrait, or serving platter. And these are just a few of the handcrafted items you’ll find at both of these unique Smoky Mountain events.
So book your Gatlinburg stay with Cabins for YOU this fall and get ready to view some of finest craftsmanship in the Smokies. And if you wind up feeling a little inspired, check out our brief list of easy, in-cabin craft ideas below!
41st-Annual Fall Craftsmen’s Fair
October 6–23, 2016
The 41st Annual Fall Craftsmen’s Fair begins on Thursday, October 6, and runs through Sunday, October 23. That gives you plenty of time to check out more than 180 of the finest craftspeople from all over the United States! Not only does this fair invite you to view and purchase tons of unique art, but also to view craft demonstrations and ask your own questions of the skilled craftspeople at work.
As you walk around the fair, enjoy free live country gospel and bluegrass music throughout the event beginning at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., and 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. on Sundays. This year’s featured performers are Dennis Lee (October 6–11, October 18–23) and the Ramblin Rose Trio (October 12–17).
You can find the Fall Craftsmen’s Fair at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in downtown Gatlinburg, and it will be open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., except for Sunday, when the fair will close an hour early at 5 p.m. Admission to the fair is $7 for adults and FREE for children 12 years old and under. For more information, please visit the Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair website or call (865) 436-7479.
2016 Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show
November 22–27, 2016
A little later in the season, the Gatlinburg Convention Center will host another annual craft show, the 2016 Thanksgiving craft show! From Tuesday, November 22, through Sunday, November 27, you can catch this event (one of three hosted by the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community), which showcases the beautiful work of Smoky Mountain artists and crafters with a fall-focused flair!
In case you don’t know, the Great Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts Community, established in 1937, is the largest group of independent artisans in North America. You can find them any time of year on the historic, 8-mile Arts & Crafts Loop in Gatlinburg, but only in November can you catch their specially made, Thanksgiving-themed crafts!
This year, the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show will run Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entrance to the show is absolutely FREE, and again, you can find it at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in downtown Gatlinburg. For more information, please visit their website or call (865) 436-2363.
Crafts in the Cabin
If visiting the Craftmen’s Fair or the Arts & Crafts Community Craft Show gets you inspired for a little craft-making yourself, check out these simple ideas for in-cabin crafts! Plan to make a pot of hot apple cider or homemade cocoa, turn on the fireplace, and spend a fun afternoon with friends or with the kids making these fall-inspired treasures:
- Create a burlap wreath for your front door. Use straight pens to attach a burlap garland around a basic foam wreath; decorate with fall flowers or even homemade burlap flowers using a hot glue gun. Check out our Pinterest boards for some inspiration!
- Press leaves for a natural take on wall art. Have the kids help you with this one as you search around the cabin for a variety of fall foliage (from the ground!). Choose your favorites and press them onto white paper; then slip inside a frame. That’s it—you’ll have beautiful fall-inspired art and a lasting memento from your Gatlinburg vacation!
- Paint pumpkins for your front porch. This is so easy for the kids and so much fun! Choose small or large pumpkins and gather a variety of acrylic paint colors. Then spend the afternoon painting on the front porch while you soak in the gorgeous fall weather and enjoy some much-needed family time.