Arts & Crafts

Around 1937 John Cowden and his fellow colleagues found out the Great Smoky Arts and Crafts Community now known as the Glades in Gatlinburg. All they wanted was to stay near their sources and do their work from home and they succeeded in bringing the tourists to their doorsteps by their craftsmanship.

There are over 120 artists and craftsmen along the 8 mile loop road with convenient parking lots at their doorsteps. This area has been called as the Tennessee Arts and Crafts Trail. This area has been a treasure of arts and crafts in the whole of America.

source for history of arts and crafts in Gatlinburg

http://www.gatlinburgcrafts.com/history.html

Each member shop has been given the distinctive logo which assures you of the quality handicraft items. So check for the logo when you buy them. You can take a trolley down the 8 mile loop so that you can window shop and also take home some precious heirloom by getting down as and when needed.

Almost all the shops are open from10 AM in the morning till 5 PM in the evening. You can spend your day in a relaxed way from morning till evening. The advantage in getting things here is that you can directly meet the artists and craftsmen and enjoy visualizing how they make things and get satisfied with the things you buy. You can get traditional brooms to potteries, quilts, handlooms and wood carvings.

There are crafts fair throughout the year and this year’s summer fest is the 35th Summer Craftsmen Fair between July16 - 24 from 10-6pm. There is also a fair in the winter called Holiday Craft Fair in Nov 23 to Dec 5 2010. There are craft shows all through the year.

source for craft shows

http://www.gatlinburgcrafts.com/craftshows.html

source for summer fair

http://www.craftsmenfair.com/summershow.html

Hence plan your travel to Gatlinburg, Tennessee during the fair seasons so that you make your Gatlinburg travel an unforgettable.