Festival on the Square

From Saturday, July 11th to Sunday, the 12th, the Historic Courthouse Square in downtown Hayesville, North Carolina, will once again be transformed into a mecca of crafters, artists and food vendors for the 35th Annual Festival on the Square. This year's Festival kicks off Friday night with a street dance and live music starting around 7:30. On the corner beside Town Hall, the streets will close a couple of hours before the dance and fresh-cooked food, desserts and cold drinks will be sold to benefit local youth organizations.

More than 75 crafters and artists from several states will display their wares beneath the trees around the courthouse, which is on the National Register for Historic Places. On Saturday from 10-5 and Sunday from 10-4, items like pottery, birdhouses, handmade knives, gourds, yard decor and wood carvings will be for sale. Some others are fabric art, knitting, soaps, and jewelry. Many artists will be doing demonstrations, as well. The Square now has Internet which allows more vendors to accept credit cards.

Patrons of the arts will want to stay around for the ongoing live entertainment featured in the Gazebo all afternoon both days. A special children's tent will feature children’s activities so even the littlest kids can enjoy the arts. Sponsored by the Clay County Historical and Arts Council, admission to the Festival and all entertainment is free, but barbeque and other food items will be sold to benefit CCHAC, which supports the Old Jail Museum and various art and history events for the schools and the community. CCHAC receives support from the NC Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Resources, with funding from the National Endowments of the Arts.

For more information about the Festival, go to www.clayhistoryarts.org. No pets, only service dogs allowed.