Sixth Annual Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival

The Townsend Artisan Guild, Townsend, TN, has announced its sixth annual Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival, to be held at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, April 17 – 19, 2015.

The event will again offer its popular vendors marketplace; family activities; live animal displays; fiber arts demonstrations; and classes for beginners through advanced fiber enthusiasts. General admission is free, though classes and some family activities require a fee. In addition, pre-registration for classes is requested and is now open (visit event website, below.)

Hours for the event are 9 am to 5 pm on April 17 and 18 (Fri/Sat), and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday.

Classes are offered for beginning through advanced levels, and include weaving, crocheting, needle felting, basket making, rug hooking, cabling, yarn dyeing, and much more, including the popular spinning classes by Jennifer Bennett of Harmony Wools Alpacas, Sweetwater, TN. Dozens of classes are offered, with new classes added for 2015.  Details, including vendor and class lists, and how to register for classes, may be found on the event website, www.smokymountainfiberartsfestival.org.

Demonstrations will again be available for adults and children to explore the various techniques of working with fibers. The demonstrators will help the beginner identify where to begin, and help resolve questions of the more experienced fiber enthusiast.

Scheduled children’s activities include weaving, clay modeling, and llama walks.  In addition, many of the fiber arts classes are suitable for ages 12 and above. 

Russell and Sherry Liles of Liles Acres Organic Farms, Maryville, TN, will bring their llamas, goats, and Angora rabbits, and will provide opportunities for interaction with visitors. 

Roger and Rosalyn Fanti and their three children of Saddle Brook Farm, Dandridge, TN will bring sheep and will share the processes of raising the sheep to shearing.  This makes the festival truly a “sheep to shawl” event, showing the entire process from fleece to fiber to threads and yarn, to finished goods.

Questions and inquiries may be addressed by contacting the Townsend Artisan Guild at townsendartisanguild@gmail.com or by calling 865-448-0859.

The Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival, presented by the Townsend Artisan Guild and the Tennessee Valley Handspinners Guild, is made possible through the generosity of the following sponsors: Greater Knoxville Arts and Culture Alliance, the Tennessee Arts Commission, Blount Partnership, and Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center.