The National Carousel Fine Craft Show honors the handcrafted legacy of the exquisite Kingsport Carousel. Fine Craft exhibitors will show and sale works of heirloom quality in a wide variety of media including photography, pottery, quilts and fibers, glass and jewelry on March 25 and 26 at the Kingsport Farmers Market. Talks and demonstrations are sprinkled throughout the three day festival that begins with a Preview Party on March 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. inviting culinary and music artistry to share the stage.
The Preview Party will feature Farm to Table Tastes and Craft Brews. While you shop, enjoy Farm to Table Tastes featuring locally sourced foods prepared by Main Street Pizza Company and River Creek Farms. Craft Brews and a cash bar will also be available with music by Gerald Sheppard. Tickets are $35 for the Preview Party and can be purchased by clicking here. Funds raised by this event will support the programs of Engage Kingsport which include public art programs and economic development and community engagement through the arts. A preview party ticket includes admission to the show all weekend, where you can enjoy additional shopping, talks and demonstrations.
Friday Night Preview Farm to Table Tastes:
Lamb or Beef Meatballs with Sweet Potato Gnocchi with fried sage, brown butter
Roasted Spaghetti Squash and Butternut Alfredo with Maple Cremini Mushrooms
Cornbread and Collard Sandwich, Pulled Pork Option with Smoked Gouda, Green Tomato Bacon Jam
Quinoa Power Salad with Winter Greens and Curried Root Veggies
The 2017 National Carousel Fine Art Show continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m., with daily admission of $3 per person.
Food Trucks and Demonstrations will also take place both days including popular food vendors such as:
Me & K’s Food Truck — Tacos, hot pastrami, lettuce wraps. Fresh salsa/guacamole/seven layer bean dips.
La Abejita – Tacos, tortas, sopes, burritos, quesadillas, drinks and salads.
Backdraft – Pork, chicken, ribs, beef BBQ.
Foodie Fiction – PHAT Burger, Smoked Brisket Soft Taco, Chicken Soft Taco, Caramelized Kimchi Quesadilla, Mac and Cheese Cubed, Hand-cut French Fries, Drinks.
Fire in the Hole – Wood fired Pizza
Feeding Frenzy – Signature Grilled Cheese with bacon, Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese, Honey Dijon Ham n Cheese, Mac Attack (pulled pork with mac n cheese or artisan bread) Reuben, Hawaiian Pork Grilled Cheese, Spicy Pimento Grilled Cheese, Loaded Potato Salad, Homemade Mac n Cheese, Honey Siracha Fries, Hand cut chips with dip, Bavarian Pretzels (cinnamon sugar or salt with beer cheese or mustard dip), soup, Drinks.
Lil Delights – Fresh squeezed lemonade, Frozen Lemonade, Coffee Mochas, Hot Chocolate, Slusies, Fruit Smoothies, Tea, Nacho and Cheese, Chocolate dipped Cheesecake, Bananas, Strawberries, Hot Fudge and Mixed Berry Sundaes, Kettle Corn and Pork Rinds.
Talks and Demonstrations during show hours on Saturday and Sunday with local artisans will include:
Kipp Brixey – Brixey Studio- pottery
Barbara Bell – Meditative Drawing
Hibbert-Davis Urban Brews & Hibbert-Davis River Brews – Fresh Organic Coffee, Teas, Craft Beers, and Healthy Eating
Josette and Janey Gust
HomeSteep Herbal & JaneyLaughs
Doug Lowman – AppRidge Chair Caning
Karl Joplin – Associate Professor in Biological Sciences, Bonsai
K.C. St. Louis – Abingdon Olive Oil Co.
Aleta Chandler – ArtCurious Gallery- pottery wheel
Main St. Pizza Company & River Creek Farm – Pasta Making 101: Ravioli
Ryan Gothrop – Mobile Glass Blowing
About the Kingsport Carousel: This volunteer-led effort began in 2010 and resulted in a beautifully and lovingly refurbished 1956 Herschell Carousel with 32 hand-carved, hand-painted platform animals along with handpainted rounding boards, birds, butterflies and sweep animals. A beauty to behold and the work of over 300 volunteers. The Kingsport Carousel opened in 2015 and has hosted over 125,000 riders in less than 18 months of operation.
