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March 18, 2024

Plans announced for 40th Annual Hiddenite Celebration

An exciting day of innovative, hands on arts and heritage activities is planned for the Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center’s 40th Annual Hiddenite Celebration of the Arts. This one-of-a-kind, arts and cultural heritage festival will be held on Saturday, September 25, 2021, on Hiddenite Church Road in Alexander County from 9:00am until 4:00pm. Celebration of the Arts is a free admission street festival that features unique, family friendly arts and cultural heritage activities for all ages.  The Center’s Hiddenite Celebration of the Arts festival has featured diversely talented artists, crafters, and performers since 1981.

Celebration of the Arts offers the public an opportunity to shop for fine arts, crafts and jewelry, home décor treasures, artisan crafted pieces, fiber arts, regional pottery, and more. The festival also includes commercial vendors, a wide variety of food vendors, and information booths from local businesses and civic organizations.

In the Celebration Folk Life Pavilion, visitors will experience hands on demonstrations in traditional folkways.  Celebration of the Arts will feature four live performance stages featuring diverse offerings in music and dance, including the Appalachian State Steely Pan Band, and genres from Blue Grass & Gospel to Rhythm and Blues.
Celebration’s Children’s Art In Action area will feature the App State GeoBago and Art Bus providing opportunities for hands on creativity, make and take crafts, and storytelling.  These activities are made possible by funding from Sharpe Chair of Fine and Applied Arts of Appalachian State University.

The Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center’s Historic James Paul Lucas Mansion Museum, art gallery, the Alexander County Visitor Center (housed within the Lucas Mansion, gemstone display, and 3rd Floor Antique Toy & Doll Museum will be open for visitors throughout the day. Photographs of the Lucas Mansion’s collectibles from the days that Mr. Lucas lived in the mansion will be exhibited on the second floor.

The Center’s Lucas Mansion Gallery exhibit will celebrate Lucille Earp’s years of contributions to the Hiddenite Center and Alexander County.   “As we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Hiddenite Center, we are honored to celebrate Lucille as author, artist, the Center’s long time oil painting instructor, Friend of the Center and volunteer.   The exhibit will be free to visit throughout the day. Lucille will be on hand to greet gallery visitors and will be available to discuss her exhibited works and have prints available for sale.

Celebration applications are now available for  fine arts and crafts vendors, commercial vendors, food vendors, and performers. Cost for a 10’x10’ vendor space is $40 per space if purchased prior to August 15th. If a larger space is needed, vendors are welcome to purchase multiple booths and request that they be placed side by side. Vendor spaces purchased on August 15th or after that date are $50 per space.First time artists and crafts vendors applying to show at Celebration are required to submit a minimum of three photos or slides representative of the work that they plan to offer for sale. Public information booths are also available for non-profit organizations, businesses, and individuals. Booths for distributing information with no sales are $15 each.

Celebration of the Arts features four live performance stages for entertainment. Performance time slots are available, free of charge, to regional musicians, dancers, drama troupes, etc.  Email Karen@hiddenitearts.org OR Allison@hiddenitearts.org OR call 828-632-6966 to be considered.

Celebration applications are available at  Center’s website: www.hiddenitearts.org,  call (828) 632-6966, or email info@hiddenitearts.org

This project is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources. www.NCArts.org, with generous funding from the Eileen and R. Y. Sharpe Family Foundation, The Winston Salem Foundation, the Sharpe Chair of Fine and Applied Arts, Alexander County government, the Town of Taylorsville, the Unifour Foundation, and the Friends of the Center membership program.   The Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center’s Lucas Mansion and Educational Complex are wheelchair accessible.

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