Head to the Blue Ridge Mountains to experience the Butternut Creek Festival in Blairsville, Georgia. Held annually at Meeks Park on the third weekend in July, this Southeastern Appalachian festival features a juried arts and crafts show free to the public. Fine artworks and craft demonstrations in a North Georgia mountain setting on the banks of Butternut Creek — plus food vendors, live music, and a car raffle — combine to create a beautiful art show for family and friends to enjoy on their Blue Ridge vacation.
Shop for Appalachian Artworks & Country Crafts
Drawing in up to 14,000 visitors each year, the Butternut Creek Festival is a top North Georgia art show that features beautiful creations from up to 85 artists and craftsmen. While wandering the grounds, you’ll come across a variety of regional artworks — each juried to offer only the best at this Blairsville art show.
Pick out natural stone or clay jewelry for your upcoming birthday, find that missing piece in your mixed media collection, or browse wildlife painting in watercolor, oil, or acrylic. Looking to update your wardrobe? Check out leather works, crocheted scarves, or tie-dyed T-shirts. For yard art, you’ll find painted rocks, animal silhouettes, wood furniture, wind chimes, and glass garden features.
Home decor includes hand-carved characters, decorative ceramics, pencil drawings, fiber art, macrame, pillows, nail crosses by Nailed to the Cross, and soy wax candles. This 2-day arts and crafts festival in Blairsville also features forged knives, handmade soaps, woodcrafts, stoneware, wine bottle art, survival firestarters, organic hemp products, panjos, and thumb pianos!
Artwork Categories
- Basketry
- Candles & soap
- Decorative painting
- Fabric art
- Fine art
- Glass
- Jewelry
- Metal working
- Photography
- Pottery
- Scrimshaw
- Woodturning
For more art shows and art classes throughout the calendar, check out the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association.
Pause at a Professional Demonstration
Between shopping and visiting exhibitors, there will be craft demonstrations at the Butternut Creek Festival. See gourds transformed, metal worked into functional or decorative pieces, and wood chainsawed into art. Plus, you can stop by a caricature artist to get your one-of-a-kind drawing — a great keepsake from your time in the North Georgia mountains!
Enter the Car Raffle
Be sure to sign up for the charity car raffle to help support local art programs in Union County!
Enjoy Live Music & Festival Food
You can’t have a summer festival without great music and good food. Enjoy live entertainment at the performing gazebo and munch on meals, snacks, and treats at the picnic pavilion or under shady trees. There’s even a cheesery if you’re a fan of this dairy delicacy.
Looking for more Appalachian food and fun? Check out the Blairsville Sorghum Festival in October.
Created by High Country Artisans
Since the first festival in 1998, the Butternut Creek Festival has been hosted by High Country Artisans, a local non-profit organization with a passion for quality artistry and craftsmanship who dedicate their time and energy to showcasing Appalachian heritage through traditional creativity in the region.
To further encourage appreciation of North Georgia’s arts and crafts, they utilize exhibitions and demonstrations — like this annual volunteer-led event — to promote local artists and crafters and help support art programs in the community.
2024 Butternut Creek Festival Details
Admission
FREE admission, parking & shuttle service!
Please note pets are not allowed at this North Georgia event.
Dates
July 20-21, 2024
Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location
Meeks Park
490 Meeks Park Road
Blairsville, GA 30512
Contact
706.781.1221
butternutcreekfestival@gmail.com
Stay Near the Festival
After a full day of summer fun at the Butternut Creek Art Festival, unwind in the hot tub, cast a line in the Toccoa River, or lounge under the stars on the open deck at your North Georgia cabin rental. Our beautiful Blue Ridge Mountain cabins currently range from 1-7 bedrooms and feature homey conveniences plus fun extras to make your stay comfortable and memorable.
At your North Georgia hideaway, screen movies in the home theater, sip wine at the fire table, play pool in the game room, whip up drinks at the wet bar, and dream in a plush king suite…for starters. From mountain vistas, wooded surroundings, and riverside relaxation, there are plenty of views to suit your vacation. Conveniences include fully equipped kitchens, fast Wi-Fi, keyless entry (for simple self check-in), and washers/dryers.
Plan your summer vacation at a Blue Ridge cabin and experience Butternut Creek Fest like a local!
