Arts & Crafts Award Show at Great Train Robbery Saturday and Sunday

Story by Sam Calhoun

If July’s overflow crowd at Pat Fay’s Summer Arts & Craft Show is any indication, the 5th annual Labor Day Arts & Crafts Award Show, hosted by Fay’s Mountain Top Promotions, will be packed with vendors and buyers and be a good time for all. And for good reason—the established event attracts only the best of the best, featuring 50 artists from all over the country that bring creations that fulfill the thrill of a unique find.

The Labor Day Arts & Crafts Award Show takes place this Saturday and Sunday, September 5 and 6, at The Great Train Robbery, located at 2120 Tynecastle Highway in Banner Elk, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days. Admission and parking are free.

“[Giving awards] tends to draw artists that are masters in their craft from all over the country to try their hand for an award,” said Fay.

Unique finds at this weekend’s show include woodwork, jewelry, watercolors, oil paintings, books, wind chimes, clothing, homemade sauces, handmade furniture, pottery, metalwork, lampshades and lamps, glasswork, chainsaw bears, garden items and hand-carved boats.

The show features watercolors from Boonville’s Fredrick Marshall and Kentucky’s Carol Bowles, as well as oil paintings from Elk Park’s Audrey Young and South Carolina’s Michael Allen Maulden. Jewelry will be on hand from Florida’s Susan Sorrentine, Asheville’s Jeremy Fore, Graham’s Lou Humphrey and Banner Elk’s Lisa Araiza. Varieties of furniture from Banner Elk’s Dick Larson and Laurie Weiner and Tennessee’s Scott Deming will be at the show, along with Georgia’s Mike Esslinger and his metalwork, chainsaw bears, hand-carved walking sticks and birdbaths.

Attendees will enjoy pottery from Kentucky’s Crystal Benson, hand-painted glass windows from Lenoir’s Sandra Keller, designer clothing from Florida’s Rochelle Steinman, wine from Sparta’s Chateau Laurinda Winery, salsa and sauces from Tennessee’s Clinton Bellamy, lampshades and lamps from Virginia’s Mike and Jane Floyd, mosaic inlaid tables from Davidson’s Gretchen Kauffman, hand-carved wooden rowboats from Tennessee’s Nolan Pazin and much more.

The Great Train Robbery will remain open during the show, offering visitors additional opportunities to peruse a wide variety of home furnishings and gifts. The show features a food vendor serving hot dogs, hamburgers, Bratwurst and all the fixings.

Fay’s next arts and crafts show will take place at Boone Mall from Friday to Sunday, November 27 to 29. For more information or directions, call 828-898-8645. To apply to be a vendor at upcoming Mountain Top Promotions shows, call Fay at 828-733-0675.

Want To Go?

Date: Saturday and Sunday, September 5 and 6
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. both days
Location: The Great Train Robbery, Banner Elk
Cost: Free admission and parking