Craft Shows & Fairs in Jonesborough, Tennessee

Jonesborough was founded in 1779, making it the oldest town in Tennessee. Its historic downtown — courthouse, 18th-century buildings, an unbroken Main Street of brick storefronts — has been preserved in a way that few towns in the rural South can match. Craft has always been part of that identity.

In a region shaped by the Appalachian highlands of Northeast Tennessee, the tradition of making things by hand is not ornamental — it is woven into the town's history and its annual calendar.

Jonesborough's Craft Show Scene

Mill Spring Makers Faire

A maker fair featuring regional craftspeople in a small-town setting.

Made Around Here Market

An annual craft show where, the town says, thousands come to browse hundreds of handcrafted items. Expect:

• Vendor booths of handcrafted items
• Holiday gift shopping in the historic town
• Community food traditions
• Cultural programming reflecting the highland heritage of Northeast Tennessee

Craft traditions represented: white oak basketry, quilting, hand-weaving, pottery, woodworking, and mountain foodways.

Historic Jonesborough Craft Show

No current listing for this show could be found on the town's events calendar; check with the Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center for craft show dates. The scale matches the town — intimate, human-sized, deeply connected to place.

Historic Jonesborough Holiday Celebration

Check the town's events calendar for current holiday programming. The combination of brick storefronts, candlelight, and handmade goods in America's oldest Tennessee town creates a setting that modern venues cannot replicate.

National Storytelling Festival

One of the most celebrated storytelling events in the United States. Held since 1973, it fills the small town with visitors each fall. The audience for this event is notably engaged and culturally curious, making it a strong context for craft sales.

Appalachian Fair — Gray, TN (about 9 miles away)

The region's major agricultural fair. Eight days in 2026 (August 22–29), 200,000+ visitors a year. Competitive craft exhibits and demonstrations alongside livestock shows, carnival programming, and music. It is a century-old fair.

Country Fairs & County Events Near Jonesborough

Jonesborough is the county seat of Washington County. The Appalachian Fair in Gray (about 9 miles away, August) is the major regional agricultural event for Washington and Sullivan counties.

Surrounding county fairs:

• Carter County Fair — Elizabethton, about 14 miles east
• Unicoi County Fair — Erwin, about 11 miles south
• Hawkins County Fair — Rogersville, 35 miles west

Best Times to Visit Jonesborough for Craft Events

• Made Around Here Market (early November)
• National Storytelling Festival (first October weekend; October 2–4 in 2026)
• Appalachian Fair in Gray (late August, about 9 miles away)
• Fall foliage season across Appalachian Northeast Tennessee
• Mill Spring Makers Faire follows in December

Nearby Cities for Craft Shows

• Johnson City, TN — about 7 miles east; Tri-Cities metro urban center; additional artisan events and markets year-round
• Kingsport, TN — about 18 miles north; Tri-Cities metro; additional craft and fair events
• Gray, TN — about 9 miles north; site of the Appalachian Fair (late August)
• Knoxville, TN — about 85 miles west; East Tennessee's major craft hub; Dogwood Arts Festival

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the best craft shows in Jonesborough, Tennessee?

The National Storytelling Festival (first October weekend) is one of the most culturally rich event settings in Tennessee. The Made Around Here Market (November) and Mill Spring Makers Faire (December) are dedicated craft events in town. The Appalachian Fair in Gray (about 9 miles, August) is the major regional event.

When do craft shows happen in Jonesborough?

• Early November — Made Around Here Market
• Late August — Appalachian Fair in Gray (about 9 miles)
• First October weekend — National Storytelling Festival
• December — Mill Spring Makers Faire (December 5 in 2026)
• November–December — holiday shopping in historic downtown

Are there country fairs near Jonesborough?

The Appalachian Fair in Gray (about 9 miles, late August) is the region's major agricultural fair, drawing 200,000+ visitors with competitive craft exhibits. Carter, Unicoi, and Hawkins county fairs all run summer programs with competitive handmade exhibit divisions.

Is there a handmade market scene in Jonesborough?

For its size, Jonesborough has a strong craft presence. The historic downtown supports independent shops with handmade goods, Appalachian craft items, and antiques. The town's position in the Washington County/Tri-Cities region connects it to working potters, woodworkers, quilters, and fiber artists across Northeast Tennessee. The annual calendar — Storytelling Festival, Made Around Here Market, Mill Spring Makers Faire — gives craft sellers multiple strong market contexts each year.

Find Events in Jonesborough

CraftShow Events lists upcoming craft shows, handmade fairs, and heritage events in Jonesborough and across Northeast Tennessee. Browse by date or explore the full Tennessee craft calendar.