Photos courtesy of Tim Barnell and Mike Booher.

Sights & Sounds

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Folk Art Center

The Folk Art Center, located in Asheville, North Carolina, showcases outstanding examples of traditional and contemporary Southern Appalachian craft and is the most visited attraction on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The Folk Art Center houses three exhibit galleries, a craft library, an auditorium, and the Allanstand Craft Shop, the oldest continuously operating craft shop in the nation.

Exhibits feature crafts from current members of the Southern Highland Craft Guild as well as samples from the Guild's 3,500 piece collection of craft objects dating back to the turn of the 20th century. The Folk Art Center also offers live demonstrations by master crafters on a daily basis and a series of educational events seasonally.

Opened as a cooperative effort by the Guild, the National Park Service, and the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Folk Art Center also houses the Eastern National Bookstore and Information Center. The Southern Highland Craft Guild represents over 900 craftspeople in nine southeastern states.

Hours of Operation

Open daily except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day.

January-March: 9 am - 5 pm
April-December: 9 am - 6 pm

Hours of operation are subject to change. Contact directly for most current information.

Admission Fees

None.

Location

The Folk Art Center is located at milepost 382 on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Folk Art Center
Milepost 382, Blue Ridge Parkway
Asheville, NC 28805
(828) 298-7928 (Folk Art Center and Southern Highland Craft Guild)
(828) 298-0495 (Bookstore and Information Center)