Kentucky Arts and Crafts Festivals - Crafty Pursuits
Constitution, craft shops and dulcimers
Southeast Kentucky hosts a wide range of activities for roadtrippers, history buffs and even ‘crafty' backseat drivers.
Every Wednesday in the Old Town Artist Village of Berea, a group of local carvers gather at the Welcome Center around noon to sit, chew the fat and carve. Visitors to the area can partake in this activity and try their hand at woodcarving.
While in the region, schedule in at least a few hours to tour the restored old town of Danville. Follow a guided tour and immerse yourself in the history of the area - check out where founders signed Kentucky's first constitution. All buildings are historical reproductions except for the post office, which began serving the public in 1792.
The Berea College Student Craft Industries
In the summer of 1893, Berea College President William Frost began a quest to protect the work of local artisans and the location of markets for their wares. Today, Fireside Industries continues the tradition, and tourists can catch a glimpse of weavers crafting blankets and other household items.
Take time to stroll to the nearby Log House Craft Gallery that developed from the college's cabinetry program, and make sure to pop upstairs and catch a peek at some of Wallace Nutting's collectibles.
If you like handmade wooden furniture or happen to be in the market for a new dulcimer, check out Warren A. May's woodworking shop opposite the Log House. You'll find the biggest selection of handmade dulcimers around, and if you're lucky, one of the shopkeepers will play you a tune.
Churchill Weavers, the largest weaving centre in the area, bubbles over with hand-woven blankets and other goods. Mrs. Churchill and her husband built the company, as well as all the looms, after returning to the United States from India, where they taught local artisans how to weave. The current owner, Lila Bellando, bought the shop from the Churchills in 1973.
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