For the 18th time the Mountaintop Rotary Arts and Crafts Show brought throngs of art enthusiasts to Kelsey-Hutchinson Founders Park for a two-day run over the weekend.
The show seems to get a little bigger and a little more diverse in terms of the media and the artisans who present it each summer.
“We had over 100 vendors this year displaying some incredible fine art and crafts, as well as a full entertainment lineup that was really fun,”Mountaintop Rotary representative Duncan Greenlee said. “Mountaintop Rotary sponsors the show and all of the proceeds go right back into the community through programs supporting local people and local families.”
Saturday featured a clogging and buck dancing competition, celebrating the traditional dancing heritage of the Appalachian Mountain region. Nitrograss provided the soundtrack as dancers of all ages showed off their best moves in hopes of taking home a cash prize.
There was also a silent auction filled with one-of-a-kind items from local artisans, and the park was packed by large crowds throughout the day.
Sunday’s festivities included a line dancing demonstration and lessons with the Mountain City Playhouse dancers. Highlands-Cashiers Hospital kept children entertained throughout the two-day show with their “Teddy Bear Hospital” where kids were given a teddy bear and then shown some basic health care skills by hospital staff.
“The arts and crafts show is traditionally a great event and this year was certainly no different,” Highlands Mayor Patrick Taylor, a renowned potter, said from his booth. “The Rotary folks do a great job of keeping everything organized, and Highlands and the surrounding area has a lot of talented artisans So there is a wide variety of offerings.”
For anyone who may have missed this weekend’s event, there will be another arts and crafts show Aug. 26-27 in Founders Park.