Craft Shows & Country Fairs in Virginia

Virginia's craft show calendar runs from the Blue Ridge to the Atlantic Coast, with events rooted in both Appalachian heritage traditions and a thriving contemporary maker scene. The state supports over a dozen major annual shows, dozens of recurring artisan markets, and a county fair network that connects agricultural heritage to handmade craft culture in almost every region.

From the Craftsmen's Fall Classic in Roanoke to the Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon to a monthly market filling six downtown blocks in Williamsburg, Virginia's event calendar rewards year-round searching.

What to Expect at Virginia Craft Shows

Virginia's craft events cover a wide range of scale and style. At the large end, the Virginia Beach Spring Craft Market — now in its 40th year — brings 200+ artisans from across the East Coast to the Virginia Beach Convention Center for a three-day indoor showcase each April. At the other end of the spectrum, 2nd Sundays Williamsburg fills six blocks of downtown with 190–200 makers every second Sunday from March through December.

The Gilmore Shows touring circuit runs both the Craftsmen's Spring Classic in Richmond (March, Richmond Raceway Complex) and the Craftsmen's Fall Classic in Roanoke (October, Berglund Center). Both rank among the top shows in Virginia and nationally in Sunshine Artist Magazine, drawing hundreds of artisans from more than 20 states.

In Richmond, the RVA craft community has built strong independent infrastructure. Arts in the Park at Byrd Park's Carillon has been recognized as one of the top art shows in the country, drawing hundreds of juried artists each May. The Richmond Moon Market operates on a different model — a curated craft and wellness market with crystals, botanicals, ceramics, and live music that captures Richmond's eclectic maker identity.

Fine art and craft overlap frequently at Virginia shows. The Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival near Charlottesville — established in 1980 to support Claudius Crozet Park — brings 125+ juried artists for biannual events in May and October. Work spans pottery, textiles, wood, glass, leather, and photography. The Charlottesville Arts Festival at IX Art Park runs as a separate spring event celebrating the area's creative diversity.

Country Fairs & County Fairs in Virginia

Virginia's agricultural fair heritage runs deep. The State Fair of Virginia — held annually at Meadow Event Park in Doswell (late September through early October) — traces its roots to the 1850s. It showcases handmade entries in quilting, baking, woodworking, and metalsmithing alongside livestock competitions and agricultural exhibits.

County fairs reinforce this tradition across the state's 95 counties and 38 independent cities. The Albemarle County Fair, held at James Monroe's Highland estate near Charlottesville, features heritage craft demonstrations including blacksmithing, wool spinning, and weaving. The Chesterfield County Fair, dating to 1911, includes a heritage village component. The Highland County Maple Festival — held the second and third weekends of March — draws 20,000 to 30,000 visitors and includes a substantial handmade arts and crafts component.

Augusta County, surrounding Staunton, runs its own annual summer fair with home arts categories (quilts, canning, needlework) that bridge the agricultural tradition and artisan craft culture of the Shenandoah Valley.

Popular Cities for Craft Events in Virginia

Richmond

Richmond has the most active craft show calendar in the state. Key events include:

• Craftsmen's Spring Classic — Richmond Raceway Complex, March; national touring show
• Arts in the Park — Byrd Park Carillon, May; ranked among top art shows in the US
• RVA Craft Show — Henrico Sports + Events Center, November; 100+ handmade vendors
• Carytown Artisan Market — City Stadium, December; 150+ vendors, food trucks, live music

Virginia Commonwealth University's arts programs feed a strong local maker pipeline. Scott's Addition and Carytown are the neighborhoods to know.

Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach anchors the Hampton Roads craft show scene with two major annual events:

• Virginia Beach Spring Craft Market — Convention Center, April; 40th annual, 200+ artisans; Heritage Celebration live demos
• Neptune Festival Arts and Craft Show — Oceanfront, late September; 270+ artisans

The Virginia Beach Farmers Market adds eight special events annually.

Charlottesville

The Crozet Arts and Crafts Festival has been the region's signature event since 1980, running twice yearly at Claudius Crozet Park (12 miles west of the city). The Charlottesville Arts Festival at IX Art Park and weekly City Market artisan vendors round out the scene. Albemarle County's wine country adds an artisan overlay that few comparable cities can match.

Roanoke

Roanoke's Craftsmen's Fall Classic at Berglund Center is one of Virginia's top-ranked shows — 37th annual, Top 20 nationally, free admission with a food bank donation. The Roanoke City Market Building (est. 1882) hosts artisan vendors year-round.

Alexandria

Old Town and Del Ray together make Alexandria one of Northern Virginia's most active craft destinations:

• Art on the Avenue — Mt. Vernon Avenue, first Saturday in October; named Best Live Event by Virginia Living Magazine
• Made in ALX fairs — Tavern Square and Cameron Station; 90+ vendors; multiple events annually

Williamsburg

2nd Sundays Williamsburg is one of the most consistent recurring craft markets in Virginia — 190–200 artisans across six downtown blocks, every second Sunday from March through December. Colonial Williamsburg's year-round period craft demonstrations add a living-history layer unlike anything else in the state.

Staunton

Staunton's Victorian downtown, Wharf District arts scene, and Staunton Farmers Market make it the Shenandoah Valley's most distinctive craft destination. The Augusta County Fair preserves the valley's agricultural fair tradition each summer.

Abingdon

Abingdon is Southwest Virginia's craft anchor. The Virginia Highlands Festival (August) draws visitors from across the Southeast for a juried arts and crafts show voted "Best Art Show in Region" by Virginia Living Magazine. Holston Mountain Artisans — a member-owned cooperative established in 1971, representing 80+ artisans — maintains a year-round downtown shop.

Seasonal Guide to Virginia Craft Shows

Types of Events You'll Find

• Juried fine art and craft shows — Crozet Arts Festival, Arts in the Park Richmond, Virginia Highlands Festival
• Indoor multi-day shows — Virginia Beach Spring Craft Market, Craftsmen's Spring/Fall Classic
• Recurring monthly markets — 2nd Sundays Williamsburg, Richmond Moon Market
• Country and county fairs — State Fair of Virginia, Augusta County Fair, Albemarle County Fair, Chesterfield County Fair (est. 1911)
• Year-round artisan cooperatives — Holston Mountain Artisans (Abingdon; open since 1971)
• Neighborhood street festivals — Art on the Avenue (Alexandria Del Ray), Carytown Artisan Market (Richmond)
• Heritage craft demonstrations — Colonial Williamsburg, Waterford Fair (Loudoun County), Albemarle County Fair

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to find craft shows in Virginia?

Fall is the most concentrated season — October alone brings the State Fair of Virginia, Craftsmen's Fall Classic in Roanoke, Crozet Arts Festival, Art on the Avenue in Alexandria, and the Waterford Fair. Spring (April–May) is strong as well, with Arts in the Park in Richmond, the spring Crozet Festival, and the Virginia Beach Spring Craft Market. Holiday markets run November through December across most major cities.

Are there country fairs with handmade vendors in Virginia?

Yes, extensively. The State Fair of Virginia in Doswell features quilting, woodworking, baking, and craft competitions. County fairs — including the Albemarle County Fair (James Monroe's Highland), Chesterfield County Fair (est. 1911), Augusta County Fair, and Halifax County Fair — all include home arts and craft categories. The Highland County Maple Festival (March) draws 20,000–30,000 visitors with a significant artisan component.

How do I find craft shows near me in Virginia?

Use CraftShow Events to search by city or region. Virginia's major event hubs are Richmond, Virginia Beach, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Alexandria, Williamsburg, Staunton, and Abingdon. Each serves as a center for events within a 30–60 mile radius.

Are Virginia craft shows free to attend?

It varies. The Craftsmen's Fall Classic in Roanoke is free with a food bank donation. The Virginia Highlands Festival in Abingdon is free. Many outdoor markets and neighborhood festivals charge no admission. Indoor shows like the Virginia Beach Spring Craft Market and Craftsmen's Spring Classic typically charge $8–$12 for adults. County fairs usually charge general admission for fair entry.

What types of crafts are popular at Virginia fairs?

Pottery and ceramics are consistently strong. Jewelry is a staple at virtually every event. Fiber arts — quilting, weaving, knitting — carry deep roots in both Appalachian tradition and county fair culture. Woodworking is prominent in Southwest Virginia and the Blue Ridge. Fine art painting and photography feature heavily at juried shows in Alexandria, Richmond, and Charlottesville. Coastal-inspired crafts reflect the Virginia Beach aesthetic.

Is there a year-round artisan market in Virginia?

Holston Mountain Artisans in Abingdon operates as a year-round cooperative shop — 80+ member artisans, established 1971. The Roanoke City Market building (est. 1882) hosts artisan vendors year-round on Saturdays.

Discover Events in Virginia

CraftShow Events tracks craft shows, handmade fairs, artisan markets, and country fairs across all of Virginia. Search by city, season, or event type to find what's happening near you — from the Northern Virginia DC corridor to Southwest Virginia's Appalachian craft communities.