Four Craft Fairs to Visit in North Carolina this Winter

Nov 3, 2016

Craft Fairs near Charlotte, NC Visiting a craft fair during the holiday season is a memorable activity for the entire family. Whether you’re hoping to find gourmet treats, handmade toiletries, wood-hewn furniture, or some other treasure, North Carolina offers a broad array of craft fairs and festivals worth experiencing. Here are a few of our favorites.

Holly Day Fair – Fayetteville

Held from Nov. 3 through Nov. 6, Fayetteville’s annual Holly Day Fair at the Charlie Rose Agri-Expo Center is your one-stop holiday shopping experience of the season. In fact, this event is considered the largest holiday gift and craft show in Eastern North Carolina, so it’s one you don’t want to miss!

More than 200 vendors set up shop at the Expo Center, touting handcrafted and manufactured products of all varieties. You’ll find stylish jewelry, handmade crafts, clothing, children’s toys, holiday decorations, specialty food items, and more. Tickets range from $9 to $14 at the door, and the Junior League of Fayetteville has negotiated with area hotels to offer special rates for overnight visitors.

The Handmade Market – Raleigh

If you find yourself in the state capital on the weekend of Nov. 11, head to Venture Hall at Marbles Kids Museum for the biannual Handmade Market. This popular event boasts hip, handcrafted goods from more than 50 local artisans, crafters, and designers. Don’t be surprised to find exceptional jewelry pieces, apparel, fine art, paper goods, housewares, and other unique items.

While admission to The Handmade Market is free Nov. 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., you can pay $5 for early entry the day before, allowing you to browse the goods before anyone else.

Southern Christmas Show – Charlotte

Located at the Park Expo and Conference Center in Charlotte, the Southern Christmas Show is a whimsical event designed to capture the holiday spirit. The event kicks off with Preview Night on Wednesday, Nov. 9, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. After that, you’ll have from Nov. 10 – 20 to experience this wonderful show.

More than 500 merchants are hand-selected each year to participate in the event, so you’re sure to find hard-to-find collectibles, one-of-a-kind jewelry, original art, pottery, and crafts of every kind. There are also plenty of handmade heirlooms, stocking stuffers, and other gifts for the kids.

Hard Candy Christmas – Cullowhee

A mountain holiday tradition, Hard Candy Christmas at the Western Carolina University Ramsey Center is a favorite event for regional arts and crafts. Discover more than 100 glass artists, potters, folk dolls, rock carvings, miniature log cabins, wood crafts, and Christmas ornaments, all at great prices.

The 29^th Annual Hard Candy Christmas takes place on Nov. 25 – 26 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Adult admission is just $4.50 for a full weekend pass, and children under 12 get in free.

Holiday craft fairs and Christmas events are a great pastime worth sharing with the whole family. With so many great craft fairs occurring all over the state, your family’s winter travel calendar will fill up fast, so start planning that next trip today!

Image by Selena N. B. H., Licensed via CC BY 2.0