Great Smoky Christmas Arts & Crafts Show
By Leif Palmer
Posted on November 27, 2018
Do you hear that ticking? It's the sound of time passing, bringing Christmas Day closer and closer. That may not be not such good news, however, if you've hardly put a dent in your Christmas shopping. One great way to remedy that situation would be to attend the Great Smoky Christmas Arts & Crafts Show, which runs now through this Sunday at The Gatlinburg Convention Center.
This annual event is hosted by members of the Great Smoky Mountains Arts & Crafts Community in Gatlinburg, home to more than 100 shops, studios and galleries showcasing the hand-made wares of some of the region's most talented artisans. Once again this year, visitors to the Christmas show can browse vendor booths for a wide variety of arts and crafts, including quilts, straw brooms, candles, woven baskets, ceramics and pottery, dulcimers, textile arts and leather goods. You'll also find hand-made jewelry and paintings that capture the beautiful essence of life in the Great Smoky Mountains.
Arts and crafts events are a great idea any time of year, but if you go to this show before it closes on Sunday, you'll have an opportunity to pick up an authentic handcrafted memento of the Great Smoky Mountains, one that would make a great gift idea for anyone on your list. These are items you won't find in shopping malls or big box stores.
Admission to the Christmas Arts & Crafts Show is free, and you'll find lots of nearby parking in one of our many Gatlinburg parking lots, several of which are within a short walk of the convention center. What's also convenient about our parking is that if you want to leave your car in the lot for the full day, you could walk to the Arts & Crafts Show and even have time later to take the Gatlinburg trolley from the nearest trolley stop and journey out to the Arts & Crafts Community itself.
The community is located on the northern end of Gatlinburg and consists of an eight-mile auto loop formed by Glades Rd., Buckhorn Rd. and U.S. Hwy. 321 E. There are several trolley stops throughout the community, so you could stop at a group of studios, browse and shop for a while and then hop the next trolley and move on to your next destination. There are lots of eateries in the community as well, so it's always convenient to take a break from your shopping and grab a bite to eat.
About Leif Palmer
Leif Palmer loves residing in Gatlinburg. He is an avid outdoorsman: rowing for exercise on the lake, trail hiking, and free climbing rocks in the mountains. He indulges his arty side by periodically beating up pieces of marble by sculpting. He is always frustrated by his inability to sink long putts, and hates his curly hair (but his wife loves it). Leif has been known to muster enough courage to change a diaper, and hopes his son will become a chip off the old block.