We are pleased to be involved in this two-day celebration of mountain heritage!

Celebrate the traditions of Appalachia with a weekend full of culture, crafts, and music! Main Street will be closed to traffic, creating a festival atmosphere featuring live music, vendors, demonstrators, and more.

The Shelton House Museum of North Carolina Craft and History will present a special exhibition of quilts and coverlets during the Appalachian True Heritage Festival on April 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission to the festival is free.

This featured display will complement the numerous historic and contemporary textile examples currently on view at the museum, further highlighting the rich quilting traditions of our region. In addition to selections from the museum’s own collection, the exhibition will include works by community quilt guilds and quilters, showcasing both time-honored patterns and contemporary interpretations.

The exhibition will be held at the Ministry Activity Center at First Baptist Church on Main Street in Waynesville. The Shelton House itself will also be open during the festival, where additional quilts and coverlets from the museum’s collection will be on view, offering visitors an expanded opportunity to experience the artistry, skill, and heritage of Appalachian quilting.

The Blue Ridge Heritage Weekend (BRHW) Arts & Crafts Fair is an annual outdoor festival celebrating the traditional and contemporary crafts of the Southern Appalachian region. Held on the historic Shelton Campus in Waynesville, North Carolina, the event brings together juried artists, craft demonstrators, local musicians, and food vendors for a weekend highlighting the creativity and cultural heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Presented as a fundraiser for the Shelton House Museum of North Carolina Craft and History, the festival offers visitors the opportunity to meet makers, experience craft demonstrations, and explore the traditions that continue to shape Western North Carolina.

The BRHW Arts & Crafts Fair is open to artists and craftspeople from all 48 continental United States, as well as students currently studying at North Carolina institutions.

Makers from Western North Carolina and adjacent Appalachian regions are especially encouraged to apply. While not a requirement, the fair emphasizes traditional heritage craft and contemporary art inspired by Appalachian craft traditions.

Apply to be a part of Blue Ridge Heritage Weekend by clicking here! For guidelines, click here.