Visit the Folk Art Center

Folk Art Center

NPS Photo / Tina Haver Currin

The Folk Art Center is more than just a museum of traditional and contemporary Appalachian arts and crafts. It’s also a jump-off point for hiking the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, a hub for rotating exhibits and live events, and home to the oldest craft shop in the country.

Located on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost 382 (approximately 8 miles from downtown Asheville), the Folk Art Center is a destination unto itself. From woodworking to tapestry, glasswork and pottery, jewelry to print-making, there’s a little something for everyone to explore — and the adventure doesn’t stop at the front door. Miles of hiking unfurl from the Folk Art Center’s ample parking lot, which offers dedicated RV and accessible parking spots and picnic areas as well.

Inside, visitors can explore three galleries dedicated to traditional and modern Appalachian crafts, dive into a rich collection of archives in the American Craft library, or browse the works of more than 300 regional artists. From March through December, local artisans provide daily craft demonstrations inside the building’s main lobby. Visitors can speak with the artists as they work and enjoy an up-close look at the process.

The Folk Art Center is the headquarters of the Southern Highland Craft Guild and its century-old Allanstand Craft Shop, the oldest craft shop in the United States. A gift shop with Blue Ridge Parkway information and souvenirs is also available on site. The Folk Art Center is typically open year-round with the exception of Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Check the opening schedule for specific hours.

The Folk Art Center is the perfect place to begin your Blue Ridge Parkway getaway or to use as a stopping point between destinations. Visitors can enjoy a series of educational events, like daily craft demonstrations, craft fairs, and rotating exhibits that change with the season. Shop for special treasures that support Appalachian artists in the Center’s Craft Shop—and get your National Parks Passport stamp and Parkway souvenirs, too.

Take a break at one of the many picnic tables nestled under a canopy of trees or go for a short stroll on the Center’s nature trail, which offers interpretive signage about local flora along the path. If you’re on the hunt for a longer hike, you can access North Carolina’s 1,200-mile-long Mountains-to-Sea Trail right from the parking lot.

Details

Duration

1-4 Hours

Visitors to the Folk Art Center can spend time exploring the museum, visiting the craft shop, attending a live demonstration or event, hiking, or having a picnic.

Activity

Arts and Culture

The Folk Art Center is a diverse destination. You can explore the rotating exhibits and permanent collection in the museum’s galleries; learn about the local crafting history; enjoy craft demonstrations; support Southern Appalachian craftspeople by bringing a treasure home with you; get Parkway information and gifts; and hike the trails around the Folk Art Center or have a picnic on the grounds.

Age(s)

Young children may need supervision around the fragile crafts.

Pets Allowed

No

Pets are not allowed in the Folk Art Center. Service animals are welcome. Pets on leashes no longer than 6 feet are allowed on the trails and around the grounds.

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Folk Art Center, Milepost 382

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

Time of Day

Day

Accessibility Information

The Folk Art Center building, parking, picnic tables, and rest rooms are wheelchair accessible. There is not an elevator to access the second level of the building, but rather a sloped ramp. Wheelchairs are available for loan. Service animals are allowed. The 0.25-mile nature trail is a level, crushed gravel and dirt path that averages 4 feet in width.