Guests of all ages are invited to Tennessee Tech University’s Appalachian Center for Craft for the annual Holiday Festival Nov. 18-19 at its campus in Smithville.
The event will feature a discount in the retail gallery and free kids’ crafts all weekend. In addition, guests on Saturday can enjoy face-painting, lunch by Logan’s Snack Shack, a student art sale and workshops. Holiday Festival workshops are ticketed and advanced registration online or by phone is encouraged.
All weekend, visitors can take advantage of a special holiday shopping discount in the Craft Center’s retail gallery. Handmade goods from local and regional artists will be 25% off, including cards, jewelry, ornaments, glassware, textiles, prints, paintings and more. On Saturday only, guests can shop the Visual Art Society student art sale, which features work by students in Tech’s School of Art, Craft and Design.
Younger visitors can participate in free kids’ activities in the Craft Center cafe. Activities will include clay cutouts, beaded ornaments and holiday cards. These drop-in crafts are free for kids of all ages and available all weekend while supplies last. Face painting will be available Saturday only. Minors must be accompanied by parents or guardians.
On Saturday, the Craft Center will offer hands-on workshops in their glass, wood and fibers studios. Participants can sign up to work one-on-one with Craft Center artists, David Rios and Fae Palentyn, to create their own glass ornament and learn the basics of glass blowing. In the woodshop, local wood-turner Myra Orton will teach pyrography. Participants will learn how to use burning tools to “draw” designs on wood. Lastly, fibers artist Sally Garner will lead a workshop on hand-dyed scarves, teaching participants how to use indigo dye and shibori techniques on silk.
On Sunday, visitors can watch artist demonstrations in the gallery, including puppet making with Holly Arms, basketry for sculptural forms with Sally Garner and live painting with Emma Loy.
Guests can purchase lunch from Logan’s Snack Shack all day on Saturday. Lunch options will include hotdogs, Polish sausage, Asian street tacos, BBQ nachos and more.
Hours for the Holiday Festival are Saturday, Nov. 18 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 19 from noon to 5 p.m. The Appalachian Center for Craft is located at 1560 Craft Center Drive in Smithville.
Guests are strongly encouraged to register for workshops in advance due to limited seating, however workshop registrations are available at the door, subject to availability. Learn more and register for workshops at tntech.edu/craftcenter/holiday or call 931-372-3052.
