The Big Crafty

The Big Crafty — a hand-to-heart celebration of creative exuberance — returns on Saturday and Sunday, December 7 and 8, noon-6 p.m. daily at the ExploreAsheville.com Arena in downtown Asheville. $10 entry on Saturday, free to enter on Sunday.

Now, perhaps more than ever, The Big Crafty believes in supporting creative venturers. As Western North Carolina’s creative community recovers from Hurricane Helene, The Big Crafty offers a space for makers to sell their work and for fans of unique art and craft to support those makers … while also snapping up memorable and meaningful holiday gifts.

Shop for ceramics, prints, jewelry, woodwork and more, while also celebrating the vibrant and resurgent creative community of WNC.

The Big Crafty was founded in 2008 by Brandy Bourne and Justin Rabuck. First held at The Grey Eagle, the event moved into the Asheville Art Museum before shifting to its current home at Harrah’s Cherokee Center - Asheville. Since it began, it has spawned events like Big Love Fest and The Big Day and brick-and-mortar art shops Horse + Hero and CODA at Citizen Vinyl in Asheville and HollerHouse in Bristol, TN/VA.

The Big Crafty extends a warm welcome to the rich pageant of basement and backyard artists, juried prize-winners, and those who delight in them. The twice-yearly event has been voted Best Arts/Crafts Fair by readers of Mountain Xpress every year since it began. Brandy and Justin are proud to boost creative communities in all their go-for-broke, boundary-pushing, full-tilt glory.