ASHEVILLE, NC - The North Carolina Arboretum celebrates Southern Appalachian traditions during Heritage Crafts Weekend, held September 25 and 26.
The event, now in its fifth year, features craft demonstrations and juried crafts vendors, plant sales and musical performances from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days in the Heritage Garden, Baker Exhibit Center and Education Center. Western North Carolina is known worldwide for its botanical beauty and diversity, as well as for the many wonderful handmade crafts that are borne of the mountain way of life. Vitally important to the region’s craft heritage is the close relationship between crafts and the plants used in their production. Much of the fiber, color and artistic expression of mountain craft is inspired from the character and nature of plants.
The Heritage Garden showcases plants used in the multi-million-dollar craft industry of Western North Carolina, including those used for handmade paper and brooms, baskets and dyes. Visitors can explore the many plants that support crafts, understand how they are grown, prepared and used, and appreciate their value to the industry. Crafters and Musicians interested in participating in The N.C. Arboretum’s Heritage Crafts Weekend may email Mkosco@ncarboretum.org for an application form.
Visitors will have a chance to explore the new Green Garden Shed, a demonstration exhibit that provides real-world and affordable examples of how to infuse sustainable practices into an existing shed structure.
Admission to Heritage Crafts Weekend is free for members or with the parking fee of $8 per personal vehicle. Parking is always free for Arboretum Society members.