This guide was researched in spring 2026. Timing below describes when events usually happen, not confirmed dates. For this year's dates, prices and vendor details, see the listed upcoming events or check the organizer's website before you go or apply. How we verify events

Quilting Shows in Tennessee

Tennessee sits at the heart of Appalachian craft country, and quilting is one of the traditions that defines the state's handmade heritage. The Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community in Gatlinburg — founded around 1937, and billed as the largest independent organization of artisans in the United States — has 80+ artists and craftsmen along an 8-mile loop on Glades Road and Buckhorn Road.

The Southern Highland Craft Guild, which began in 1930 and has more than 800 juried artisans from nine states, maintains a significant presence in East Tennessee. Tennessee Craft (founded 1965) produces the state's flagship Tennessee Craft Fair in Nashville's Centennial Park, where fiber artists and quilters are consistently among the juried exhibitors.

Top Quilting Events in Tennessee

Tennessee Craft Fair (Spring) — Centennial Park, Nashville; spring (55th annual in 2026); juried fine craft
Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair — Gatlinburg Convention Center; fall (October 8–28 in 2026; the July edition is on a break after 2026); 200+ booths including quilters and fiber artists
Tennessee Craft Fair (Fall) — Centennial Park, Nashville; October (October 9–11 in 2026); ~200 artists; ~45,000 visitors annually
White Oak Craft Fair — Arts Center of Cannon County, Woodbury; the arts center's craft fair, with a White Oak Holiday Bazaar later in the year
Appalachian Fair — Gray, TN (near Johnson City); late August (August 22–29, 2026, its 100th year); 200,000+ annual visitors

What to Expect

Tennessee quilting draws on Appalachian traditions that have been passed down for generations in the Smoky Mountain communities. Hand-woven textiles, traditional patchwork quilts, and applique work are staples at craft fairs across East Tennessee. The Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair — a fall show with 200+ booths, plus a July show through 2026 — has artisans displaying and selling work alongside woodcarvers, potters, and glass artists.

Nashville's Tennessee Craft Fair at Centennial Park is the state's most prestigious juried craft event. Held twice annually — spring and fall — its fall edition draws approximately 45,000 visitors and is ranked among the top 25 premier craft art fairs, per Tennessee Craft. Artists pass a jurying process, and the first Tennessee Craft fair was held in 1972.

The Foothills Craft Guild in Oak Ridge is an active regional guild. Quilting guilds operate in Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Chattanooga, and smaller communities. The White Oak Craft Fair in Woodbury specifically highlights traditional Appalachian crafts, and quilting is a regular feature. Many county fairs include home arts divisions where quilts are judged and displayed.

Popular Cities for Quilting Shows

Gatlinburg — Craftsmen's Fair; Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community with 80+ artists and craftsmen; Appalachian quilting heritage
Nashville — Tennessee Craft Fair at Centennial Park; top-25 nationally ranked per Tennessee Craft
Knoxville — Dogwood Arts Festival; Southern Highland Craft Guild presence; Old City artisan district
Jonesborough — Historic district artisan community; Appalachian craft heritage in Northeast Tennessee
Chattanooga — Chattanooga Market at First Horizon Pavilion; growing craft event scene

See all craft events in Tennessee.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community?

Founded around 1937 in Gatlinburg, it calls itself the largest independent organization of artisans in the United States. Over 80 artists and craftsmen line an 8-mile loop on Glades Road and Buckhorn Road. Quilters, weavers, woodcarvers, potters, and other artisans work and sell from their studios year-round. It is open daily and free to visit.

When are the best quilting events in Tennessee?

Spring and fall are the peaks. The Tennessee Craft Fair runs in spring and in October (October 9–11 in 2026). The Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair runs in October (its July edition is on a break after 2026). The Appalachian Fair near Johnson City runs in late August. Guild shows and holiday markets fill November and December.

Is there an Appalachian quilting tradition in Tennessee?

Yes. East Tennessee is part of the Appalachian craft heartland. The quilting tradition here connects to the broader southern highland craft culture that the Southern Highland Craft Guild has preserved since 1930. Mountain quilting patterns, hand-piecing, and traditional textile techniques are still practiced and taught in communities across the Smoky Mountains and beyond.