If you’re looking for a unique way to spend your Thanksgiving holiday this year, why not check out the Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show? From November 24 to November 29, 2015, the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community will come together at the Gatlinburg Convention Center for a Turkey Week celebration of handmade wares like no other. Finish up your Christmas shopping or just enjoy a tour of the local artisans this year at the Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show.
What Is the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community?
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, is home to the largest group of independent artisans in North America known as the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. You can visit this community by touring a historic 8-mile loop that’s been designated a Tennessee Heritage Arts & Crafts Trail. Since 1937, this trail has featured artisans who whittle, sew, paint, carve, weave, quilt, and cast, making some of the best-crafted collectibles in the nation. Enjoy fine photography, quilting, pottery, jewelry, silver smithing, stained glass, and so much more from Gatlinburg’s one and only Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community.
When Is the Thanksgiving Show?
The Great Smoky Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show will be held the week of Thanksgiving from Tuesday, November 24, 2015, to Sunday, November 29, 2015. Show hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday through Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. The show is FREE to all guests, so bring the family along and prepare to enjoy unique, handcrafted Thanksgiving gifts from the members of the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community.
Where Can I Find It?
The Thanksgiving show will be held at the Gatlinburg Convention Center, which is conveniently located within walking distance of downtown Gatlinburg. For guests staying at our Pigeon Forge cabins, don’t worry. Gatlinburg isn’t far from Pigeon Forge. You can find the convention center at 234 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, TN 37738.
If you need help finding the Convention Center from your cabin or if you’re looking for a cabin nearby, simply contact our reservation specialists. They are available 24/7 to assist you with any questions you might have about your Pigeon Forge getaway.
What Crafts Will I Find There?
The Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show will feature all the variety of handcrafted wares you would normally find at the Great Smoky Mountain Arts & Crafts Loop, but with a Thanksgiving twist. Many crafts—including quilts, candles, and pottery—will have been designed with the turkey theme in mind, making them perfect holiday gifts or unique décor items for your home. Some of the handcrafted items appearing at the show include:
- Hand-sewn quilts
- Old-fashioned straw brooms
- Hand-woven baskets
- Hand-dipped scented candles
- Victorian ceramic pitchers
- Stuffed bears
- Dulcimers
- Leather vests
For more information on handmade products or to find a complete list of members of the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community, click here.
Other Upcoming Events
If you can’t make it for the Thanksgiving Arts & Crafts Show, you’ll have one last opportunity in 2015 to check out the designs of the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community at the Christmas Craft Show. This show will take place at the Gatlinburg Convention Center from Monday, November 30, 2015, to Sunday, December 6, 2015.
And the next Great Smoky Mountain Arts & Crafts Show will not be until 2016. The Easter Craft Show will be held Thursday, March 24, 2016, through Saturday, March 26, 2016.
It’s never too early to get started on planning your Pigeon Forge vacation. We already have plenty of guests booking their 2016 getaways, so whether you’re planning to come for Easter or even next fall, it’s a good idea to go ahead and get your name on the schedule. Ask our reservation specialists for help booking your favorite Pigeon Forge cabin in 2016, and enjoy all the unique attractions and activities that the Great Smoky Mountains have to offer.
