Kentucky’s crafts festival season is fast approaching.
The Bluegrass state is known as one of the top states for handhand-crafted arts, and it’s also home to many outstanding crafts fairs and festivals. Held annually in locations as diverse as Whitesburg, Midway, Paducah and Louisville, these fairs feature displays by top artisans, demonstrations of crafts techniques, music and other celebrations of Kentucky culture.
Here are some of the biggest and most popular festivals:
Set for March 3-4 at the Lexington Convention Center, Kentucky Crafted: The Market 2012 is one of the nation’s preeminent crafts shows. The Market is a dazzling convergence of high quality art, craft, literature, music, film and food.
St. James Court Art Show, scheduled for October 5-7 in Louisville, is the granddaddy of Kentucky arts and crafts festivals. With nearly 750 exhibitors and 300,000 attendees, this festival in the charming Old Louisville neighborhood with its collection of Victorian homes has achieved international renown.
Paducah becomes a mecca for quilt enthusiasts each April during the American Quilter's Society Annual Quilt Show & Contest. Set for April 25-28, the show includes a Merchant Mall with more than 400 vendor booths offering the latest in quilting supplies and gifts.
Francisco’s Farm Arts Festival is scheduled for June 23-24 at Equus Run Vineyard in Midway. Music, children’s art projects and a demonstration of traditional printing techniques are standing attractions at this popular festival set amid the beauty of central Kentucky’s grape-growing country.
Seedtime on the Cumberland, Whitesburg’s annual festival of eastern Kentucky crafts and culture, takes place June 7-9. It promotes traditional and modern Appalachian cultural expression from crafts to music and films.
Berea Crafts Festival, on tap July 13-15 at the Indian Fort Theater in Berea College Forest, features great crafts, educational demonstrations, performing artists and favorite foods.
Historic and scenic Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, near Harrodsburg, will host its annual craft fair August 4-5.
The Bardstown Arts, Crafts & Antique Fair, will be held October 13-14 in historic downtown Bardstown. The festival features 200 artists and craftsmen, delicious Southern foods and music.
For information about many other festivals around the state, visit Kentucky Fairs and Festivals.
For more information about top events in Kentucky take a look at the Top Events USA selection of the annual main festivals and events in Kentucky.