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!

More Background On CreekWalkFestival.com

CreekWalkFestival.com served for many years as the official website of the Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival, a respected juried fine arts event held annually in Bakersville, North Carolina. Although the site is now archived and the festival eventually merged with the longstanding North Carolina Rhododendron Festival, its content provides a rich record of a beloved regional arts tradition. The website chronicled festival history, award winners, artist application details, event logistics, community initiatives, and the cultural importance of the gathering within Western North Carolina’s thriving arts corridor.

This article offers a full and detailed exploration of CreekWalkFestival.com, the festival’s origins, its artistic impact, location and surroundings, audience, goals, sponsors, award structures, community involvement, and the legacy it leaves behind.

The Purpose of CreekWalkFestival.com

The website existed to inform, organize, and promote the Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival, acting as both a public information center and an online archive of the festival’s most notable accomplishments. Its primary functions included:

• Providing festival schedules and updates

• Offering artist application details and jury information

• Highlighting award winners from each year

• Listing sponsors, donors, and partners

• Welcoming visitors to Bakersville with directions, maps, and background

• Promoting the town’s broader arts community

• Supporting fundraising initiatives, such as silent auctions

• Encouraging tourism to the Cane Creek walkway and surrounding Appalachian region

CreekWalkFestival.com offered a polished, accessible way for artists and visitors to stay connected to an art event that held major significance within the Southeastern United States.

History of the Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival

A Festival Born of Community Vision

The Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival began in the mid-2000s with the idea of using the town’s newly completed paved walkway along Cane Creek as a scenic backdrop for an outdoor arts event. Artists from across North Carolina and the broader Southeast were invited to display high-quality handcrafted work in a setting that blended natural beauty with cultural expression. From its earliest days, the festival emphasized fine art, craftsmanship, and community cohesion.

Growth Through More Than a Decade

Over roughly twelve years of operation, the festival grew into one of the area’s most respected juried shows. Exhibitors included skilled artisans in:

• Glass

• Jewelry

• Ceramics

• Woodwork

• Metalwork

• Painting

• Photography

• Fiber arts

• Sculpture

• Furniture

By attracting nearly 50 exhibitors annually, the festival developed a strong reputation for curating outstanding creative talent. Many artists returned each year due to the supportive atmosphere, helpful volunteers, well-organized logistics, and steady attendance.

Merger with the NC Rhododendron Festival

By 2017, the Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival merged with the North Carolina Rhododendron Festival, one of the state’s oldest and most celebrated summer events. The merger expanded offerings for visitors, aligning the arts show with additional programming including:

• The Rhododendron Pageant

• Craft fairs

• A car show

• Square dancing

• Local music

• Street festivities

• A 10K run

• Family-friendly outdoor activities

Following this merger, the arts festival continued to exist within the larger festival framework, preserving its identity while benefiting from increased visibility and crowds.

Location: Bakersville, NC and Cane Creek

A Mountain Town Rich in Heritage

Bakersville is a small but culturally vibrant town in Mitchell County, part of the Southern Appalachian region known for its artistic traditions, scenic landscapes, and historic craft communities. The area has deep ties to pottery, woodworking, glassmaking, and fiber art, in part due to its proximity to the world-renowned Penland School of Crafts, only minutes away.

Natural Setting

The Creek Walk Arts Festival was held directly along the banks of Cane Creek, which flows through the center of town. This provided:

• A shaded, peaceful environment for browsing art

• Easy walking pathways for attendees

• A distinctive visual identity compared to urban festivals

• A setting that allowed artists to showcase work against a backdrop of mountains, water, and greenery

Visitors often remarked on the beauty of the location, which many artists felt enhanced both the atmosphere and the overall experience.

Regional Accessibility

Bakersville is conveniently located:

• Just over an hour from Asheville, NC

• About an hour from Boone, NC

• Roughly an hour from Johnson City, TN

Neighboring towns such as Spruce Pine, Burnsville, and Penland provided additional attractions, lodging, and dining options. The Blue Ridge Parkway and Roan Mountain—two of the region’s greatest outdoor landmarks—are minutes away, making the festival a popular stop for both art seekers and nature lovers.

Festival Activities and Features

Juried Fine Arts Exhibition

At its core, the festival showcased fine art and craft, always emphasizing quality and originality. Jury-selected artists displayed:

• Functional pottery

• Atmospheric photography

• High-end jewelry

• Handcrafted furniture

• Intricate metalwork

• Sculptural clay pieces

• Artisan fiber designs

• Hand-blown glass

The variety and caliber of work attracted collectors, casual shoppers, tourists, and fellow creatives.

Music, Food, and Local Culture

The festival generally included:

• Live regional music

• Local food and refreshments

• Community-run booths

• Interactive areas for nonprofits

• Artist demonstrations

The website included specific pages for music, food vendors, and nonprofit participants, many of which were local organizations supporting the arts, education, or community services.

Silent Auction for Community Benefit

One of the event’s most important traditions was the silent auction, which raised funds for essential community needs such as:

• Stocking local food banks

• Providing heating oil assistance for low-income residents

• Supporting school art programs

• Funding beautification projects around Bakersville

• Supporting the Bakersville elementary and middle school art departments

This charitable element made the festival not only a showcase of art but also a driver of local well-being.

Artist Experience and Testimonials

CreekWalkFestival.com compiled enthusiastic feedback from participating artists over the years. Exhibitors often described the festival as:

• Well organized

• Artist-friendly with excellent volunteer support

• Beautifully situated along the creek

• Busy and lively with strong sales

• A festival they returned to repeatedly

• A hidden gem in the region

Artists consistently praised the volunteers—“Your volunteers ROCK!” was a common refrain—and appreciated easy load-in/load-out, steady crowds, and the overall sense of hospitality.

Awards and Artistic Recognition

One of the defining elements of the festival was its well-established awards system. Each year, a panel of respected judges from the regional arts community evaluated artists for categories such as:

• Best of Show

• Best 3-D Work

• Best 2-D Work

• Middleton Emerging Artist Award

• People’s Choice Award

• Best Booth

• Honorable Mentions

The award winners listed year by year reflected a high concentration of ceramic artists—fitting for a region famous for its clay traditions—but also showcased excellence in jewelry, metalwork, painting, photography, basketry, fiber, woodcraft, and glass.

The awarding of the Middleton Emerging Artist honor each year highlighted the festival’s ongoing commitment to supporting new talent, ensuring that Bakersville’s arts community remained vibrant and forward-looking.

Sponsorship and Community Support

CreekWalkFestival.com provided thorough acknowledgments of sponsors, emphasizing the strong local investment in arts and culture. Support came from:

• Foundations

• Energy companies

• Local banks

• Medical clinics

• Community groups

• Local businesses

• Regional arts organizations

• Anonymous donors

In-kind sponsors often included:

• Local farmer’s markets

• Regional libraries

• Arts councils

• Local publications

• Outdoor recreation companies

The lineup of sponsors each year demonstrated that the festival was not just an arts event but a cooperative effort among civic leaders, local businesses, and cultural advocates.

Visitor Experience

Free and Open to the Public

The festival always remained accessible to all, with no admission fee. This encouraged locals and travelers alike to explore high-quality art without barriers.

A Family-Friendly Environment

In addition to art shopping, visitors could enjoy:

• Creekside walking paths

• Picnicking

• Outdoor music

• Kid-friendly browsing

• Local Appalachian atmosphere

While the festival welcomed families, it typically enforced a no-animals policy for safety and health reasons within the event area.

Perfect Weekend Destination

Travelers often paired the festival with:

• Mountain hiking

• Visiting the Rhododendron Gardens

• Exploring Penland School of Crafts

• Driving the Blue Ridge Parkway

• Enjoying small-town restaurants and shops

This positioned the festival as a cultural anchor in a broader weekend of regional exploration.

Cultural and Social Significance

Preserving Appalachian Craft Traditions

By highlighting skilled artisans year after year, the Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival played a vital role in preserving and promoting:

• Mountain pottery traditions

• Glassblowing

• Fiber and textile crafts

• Woodturning

• Metalwork

• Handmade jewelry

• Appalachian aesthetics

The festival helped reinforce the identity of Mitchell County and the Toe River Valley as one of the country’s premier craft regions.

Strengthening Community Identity

The event brought residents together in a shared celebration of creativity. It showcased Bakersville not just as a scenic town but as a culturally rich community with deep artistic roots.

Supporting Local Needs

Through silent auctions, volunteer engagement, and sponsorship, the festival directly supported essential local services. This blended art appreciation with civic responsibility, making the festival a meaningful contributor to town well-being.

The Legacy of CreekWalkFestival.com

Although the standalone festival eventually merged with the NC Rhododendron Festival, CreekWalkFestival.com remains a historical record of:

• An 11-year arts tradition

• Dozens of award-winning artists

• Hundreds of exhibitors

• Countless community volunteers

• Thousands of visitors who supported local arts

• A small town’s rise as a regional cultural destination

The website captured the voices, visuals, awards, and community partnerships that defined the Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival. Even as the festival itself evolved into a component of a larger celebration, the identity it shaped has continued to influence Bakersville’s cultural reputation.

CreekWalkFestival.com documented one of Western North Carolina’s most distinctive arts events—an outdoor celebration that blended craftsmanship, community, and mountain beauty. The Bakersville Creek Walk Arts Festival became known for its juried fine arts showcase, strong emphasis on local culture, high-quality exhibitors, charitable initiatives, dedicated volunteers, and the serene environment of Cane Creek and Roan Mountain.

From award-winning ceramics to handcrafted jewelry, from lively music to local food, from artist testimonials to community fundraising, the festival represented the best of small-town Appalachian creativity. The website preserved its history and offered a window into an event that held deep meaning for artists, visitors, and residents alike.

Though the festival later merged with the North Carolina Rhododendron Festival, its legacy continues through the artists it supported, the community it uplifted, and the lasting record preserved on CreekWalkFestival.com.