Folk Art Center

Visitor Guide to Appalachian Craft on the Parkway

⏱ 1-1.5 hours👤 All agesFree

The Folk Art Center, located on the Blue Ridge Parkway just east of Asheville, is the headquarters and flagship showcase of the Southern Highland Craft Guild — an organization founded in the 1930s to preserve and promote the craft heritage of the southern Appalachian Mountains. It's a celebration of the region's deep tradition of fine handcraft, and a window into the living artisan culture that helped make Asheville an arts destination.

Inside, the center offers several galleries: changing exhibitions of contemporary and traditional Appalachian craft, a permanent collection tracing the region's craft history, and frequently daily craft demonstrations where Guild members show their skills — weaving, woodcarving, pottery, spinning, and more — in person. The center is also home to the Allanstand Craft Shop, established in the 1890s and one of the oldest continuously operating craft shops in the United States, where you can buy authentic, juried handcraft made by Guild members. The quality is high and the work genuinely regional.

It's free to enter, making it an accessible and rewarding stop, and its location right on the Blue Ridge Parkway means it pairs perfectly with a scenic drive (it's also near the Parkway Visitor Center). Plan around an hour, more if you browse the shop and catch a demonstration. It's a meaningful introduction to Appalachian craft and a great place to find authentic, handmade souvenirs. (Confirm current hours before visiting.)