Bakersville, NC Creek Walk Arts Festival
2017

This was the official site for the Bakersville, NC Creek Walk Arts Festival, The content is from the site's 2014 archived pages. The demise of this site is due to the merger in 2017 of the Bakersville, NC Creek Walk Arts Festival with the NC Rhododendron Festival.

Bakersville's 2017 Creek Walk Arts Festival Celebrates 11th Year

For the 11th year running, the town of Bakersville, NC hosts the Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival - a juried fine art show drawing artisans from around the region. The Festival has merged with the NC Rhododendron Festival and now will take place on Saturday, June 20, from 10AM- 5PM.
 
BCWAF showcases some of the finest art and craft to be found in the Southeast, including glass, jewelry, ceramics, metalwork, and woodcraft. Artists have been carefully selected to ensure attendees have access to the highest quality items. A silent auction will also be held to benefit Bakersville elementary & middle school art programs.
 
The merger with the NC Rhododendron Festival (June 19-20) means that visitors will also be able to enjoy the Rhododendron Pageant, craft fair, car show, square dance, and can even take part in a 10K run!

I have relatives who have lived in the small town of Bakersville or the surrounding area for generations. The town itself goes back to the 1850s. It was probably best known for its mica deposits in the late 1800's and now for the North Carolina Rhododendron Festival that is centered around the Catawba Rhododendron gardens. I love hiking the Roan Mountain recreational area which is part of one of the highest ranges in the Southern Appalachians. The treeless mountaintops offer spectacular views. Last June after a really hectic five months at the company I work for. They were growing by leaps and bounds adding new clients to their roster for part time janitor jobs. I scrambled training and overseeing new cleaning crews in floor cleaning and refinishing, carpet steam extraction cleaning, ceiling and wall vent, ceiling light, and exterior glass cleaning. It seemed that we had more emergency cleaning and pre/post special event cleaning than ever before. It was great for the company, but when my vacation time rolled around I was so grateful to head south to North Carolina and the NC Rhododendron Festival with its pageant, craft fair, street dance, car show, 10K run, and my kids all time favorite, the Ducky Derby all rolled into one great weekend. Hope to see you there next year.

Circa 2014

Saturday, September 20, 2014 : 10am - 5pm

Announcements New! Any donations to the Creek Walk Arts Festival are tax deductible. Please consider giving any amount to help keep this small town fine arts festival going strong. Visit our Donations page to send your gift via PayPal! Applying for the 2014 Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival:   For artists, click on the "Artist Info" tab above. For a Non-Profit Exhibitor Application or a Food Vendor Application (non-profits only now!), click on the " Music/Food/Non-Profs" tab above.

Info For Visitors Please visit our "Directions" and "About BCWAF" pages for more information about us and how to get here.     PLEASE NOTE: No animals will be permitted in the Festival area. We love our furry friends, but health & safety regulations do not allow for their presence at the Festival. Thanks for understanding!

Sponsors

We would like to acknowledge our generous 2014 sponsors:

Blumenthal Foundation

Duke Energy
Bakersville Improvement Group
Town of Bakersville

United Community Bank

Bakersville Community Medical Clinic
Mountain Professionals

Unimin

Young's Fuel Service

Jack & Carolyn Riley

(and, as always... "Anonymous"!)

 

In Kind Sponsors:

AMY Regional Library

Bakersville Farmer's Market

John Ferlazzo

Hedgerow Arts

Morgan Oil

Mountain Escapes

The Laurel of Asheville

Toe River Arts Council

About the Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival 

Our yearly show offers nearly 50 exhibitors of glass, jewelry, pottery, paintings, furniture, fiber, woodcraft and sculpture. The Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival has become known for showcasing some of the finest arts and crafts to be found in the Southeast. 

The Festival, which is open to the public and free of charge, takes place along the banks of Cane Creek, which winds through the center of this beautiful and historic small town. It has become a local favorite with artists and visitors alike; many returning year after year. 

Proceeds from the Silent Auction at past festivals have addressed local needs such as stocking food banks, providing heating oil subsidies for the needy, and town beautification projects.

 

Bakersville is just over an hour away from either Asheville, Boone or Johnson City [TN]. Penland School of Crafts, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Spruce Pine and Burnsville are all within 20 minutes of Bakersville and provide plenty of activities to see or do during the weekend.

Come experience our local music, food, atmosphere and more! If you haven't been to Bakersville lately, you have missed the best kept secret in western North Carolina. 

Come discover our mountain paradise!

 

Artist Testimonials

 

"Very well managed, and I enjoyed being here."

 

"Nice crowd!  I liked my location!"

 

"Great having volunteers to help during the show!"

 

"The Festival setting is very nice and volunteers are very helpful."

 

"Well organized. Wonderful volunteers."

 

"FABULOUS SHOW! Loved the music and the flow and all of the great energy."

 

"Thank you-- this was awesome!"

 

 

"This was a fabulous surprise! What a fun, well organized show. Fantastic volunteers always around to help out... very easy to load out (with) lots of help."

 

"Sales were very good, (a) nice, steady buying crowd all day long!"

 

"Each year is better & better. Your volunteers ROCK!"

 

"Great organization & care of your vendors."

 

"Fantastic volunteers. You make artists feel appreciated!"

 

Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival Awards

 

 

2014       Best of Show: Michael Hamlin-Smith, Clay Best 3-D: Shane Mickey, Clay   Best 2-D: Danny Jarrett, Photography   Honorable Mention: Ginnie Warner, Jewelry    Honorable Mention: Jessica Hall, Jewelry   Honorable Mention: Teresa Pietsch, Clay Middleton Emerging Artist: Becca Irvin Clay Judges: Cynthia Bringle, Terry Gess, & Andy Palmer    2012 Winners     Best of Show: Olivia de Soria, Jewelry   Second Place: Teresa Pietsch, Clay   Third Place: Ben Elliott, Glass   Honorable Mention: Robbie Bell, Clay    Honorable Mention: Rachel Wilder, Jewelry   Honorable Mention: Bruce Rosen, Wood Middleton Emerging Artist: Anita Blackwell, Clay Judges: Lisa Clague, Billie Ruth Sudduth, & Dr. Laura Crary    2010 Winners       Best of Show: John Geci, Glass   Second Place: Courtney Martin, Clay   Third Place: Shane Urquhart, Metals   Honorable Mention: Les Powell, Clay   Honorable Mention: Lisa Joerling, Clay & Jewelry   Honorable Mention: Ed Young, Photography   Middleton Emerging Artist: Jason Lydic, Metal Judges: Mike Doors, Leah Leitson   2008 Winners     Best of Show: Lisa Clague, Clay   First Place: Erik Dahlager, Photography  Second Place: Shane Mickey, Clay   Honorable Mention: Lindsay Rogers, Clay   Honorable Mention: Ross Edwards, Clay   Honorable Mention: Brad Kelly, Photography  Middleton Emerging Artist: Lindsay Rogers, Clay   People's Choice: Cameron Reed, Glass   Best Booth: Joy Tanner, Clay   Judges: Dr. Laura Crary, Rob Pulleyn   2006 Winners     Best of Show: Lee Anne Ashe, Clay   First Place: Janet Warner, Printmaking   Second Place: Emily Reason, Clay   Honorable Mention: Kuei Dorman, Painting   Honorable Mention: Linda Sacra, Jewelery   Honorable Mention: Joy Tanner, Clay   Middleton Emerging Artist: Joy Tanner, Clay   People's Choice: Ernie Shaver, Wood   Best Booth: Richard Moore, Wood Judges: Kathryn Gremley, Liz Brown

2013 Winners   Best of Show: Bridget Fox, Clay   Second Place (Sponsored by the Blumenthal Foundation):  Dave MacDonald, Metal   Third Place: Ginny Warner, Jewelry   Honorable Mention: Maria Musngi, Fiber   Honorable Mention: Rachel Wilder, Jewelry  Honorable Mention: John Lara & David Trophia, Jewelry   People's Choice: Katie Blossom, Jewelry Best Booth: Jason Lydic, Metal Middleton Emerging Artist: Caitley Symons, Fabric Design Judges: Kitty Love, Frank Thomson, Adam Whitney   2011 Winners       Best of Show: Julie Covington, Clay   Second Place: Katie Hill, Clay    Third Place: Blue Fire MacMahon, Clay    Honorable Mention: Valerie Schnaufer, Clay   Honorable Mention: Teresa Pietsch, Clay    Honorable Mention: Rachel Wilder, Jewelry   Middleton Emerging Artist: Teresa Pietsch, Clay Judges: Dr. Laura Crary & Deb Karash   2009 Winners     Best of Show: Ross Edwards, Clay First Place: Ian Kessler-Gowell, Glass Second Place: Lindsay Rogers, Clay Third Place: Lisa Gluckin, Clay Honorable Mention: Julie Covington, Clay Honorable Mention: Petty Shepard, Baskets Honorable Mention: Richard & Carole Moore, Baskets Middleton Emerging Artist: Lisa Gluckin, Clay Best Booth: Lindsay Rogers, Clay Judge: Sarah Martin   2007 Winners     Best of Show: Kim Oberhammer, Painting & Clay   First Place: William Baker, Clay   Second Place: Shane Mickey, Clay   Honorable Mention: Linda Sacra, Jewelery   Honorable Mention: Eunice Hatley, Basketry   Honorable Mention: Chris Winterstein, Metal   Middleton Emerging Artist: Alan White, Clay   People's Choice: Cameron Reed, Glass   Best Booth: Joy Tanner, Clay   Judges: Deb Karash and Edwina Bringle   2005 Winners       Best of Show: Michael Kline, Clay  First Place: Susan Hayden, Metal  Second Place: Mary Vogel, Photography  Honorable Mention: Leanne Ash, Clay Honorable Mention: John Dogariu, Metal & Wood Honorable Mention: Richard Moore, Wood Middleton Emerging Artist: Dave Dellinger, Metal

 

Directions to Bakersville 

 

 

If you haven't been to Bakersville, NC lately, you have missed out on one of the best kept secrets in Western North Carolina!

 

Bakersville is the County Seat for Mitchell County, and it boasts a burgeoning arts community.

 

Bakersville is just a little over an hour northeast of  Asheville, at the base of Roan Mountain, one of the highest peaks in the Eastern United States. We're also just minutes from the >Penland School of Crafts and the Blue Ridge Parkway. 

 

Enjoy a truly unique Art and Craft Festival in Bakersville, a beautiful little place in the mountains.