Regional Basketry Conferences and Weaving Workshops Georgia Weavers May Want on Their 2026 Calendar
For basket makers across Georgia, 2026 is already shaping up to be a very strong year for regional learning, travel, and connection. A recent North Georgia Basketry email update highlights several standout events within driving distance that offer classes, workshops, heritage teaching, vendors, and opportunities to meet other weavers who share a love for basketry and handmade traditions.
One of the first major events on the calendar is the Florida Tropical Weavers Guild Conference, taking place April 16–19, 2026, in Kissimmee, Florida. The email describes it as a multi-day event with classes, workshops, a vendor hall, a fiber exhibit, a keynote program, and a fashion show. For weavers who enjoy larger conferences with a broad teaching format and strong educational variety, this looks like an appealing early-season option.
On May 9, 2026, weavers can look toward Charleston for the Sweetgrass Basket Weaving Workshop in Charleston, South Carolina. The newsletter highlights instructor Sarah Edwards-Hammond and notes that the class combines hands-on basket making with the history of the Gullah Geechee sweetgrass tradition, giving the event both artistic and cultural depth. For those interested in traditional Southern basketry, this is the kind of workshop that offers more than technique alone.
Another heritage-focused opportunity follows on May 22, 2026, with the Sweetgrass Basket Workshop in Orangeburg, South Carolina. According to the email, this workshop features Gail Wright, described as a master basket maker teaching the art, history, and foundational methods of sweetgrass basketry. That makes it a strong option for basket makers who value traditional forms and culture-based instruction.
The month continues with a second event led by Sarah Edwards-Hammond: the Sweetgrass Basketry Workshop on May 30, 2026, in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. The newsletter notes that this class covers the coiling process, shaping, stitching, and the wider cultural meaning of the tradition. For Georgia weavers who want a more focused, hands-on sweetgrass experience, this workshop stands out as another meaningful addition to the calendar.
For basket makers who enjoy natural materials, mixed media, and crossover techniques, the 2026 Gourd Gathering in Waynesville, North Carolina, from May 27–31, 2026, offers a different kind of creative experience. The email describes it as a strong fit for weavers interested in coiling, pine needles, paper strand, cord, beads, altered gourds, and woven vessel construction. It is a reminder that basketry inspiration often grows when makers explore related materials and forms.
Early June brings the Boone in June Weave-In, scheduled for June 4–6, 2026, in Boone, North Carolina. North Georgia Basketry highlights teachers including Candy Alexander, Pati English, and Kathy Petronzio, and notes that other listings for the event reference Cheryl Thomas and Karen Maugans as well. The email presents this weekend gathering as a welcoming event with projects ranging from beginner to advanced, which makes it especially attractive for guild members and small groups traveling together.
Another milestone event arrives with the Bluegrass Area Basketmakers 30th Annual Seminar, set for June 9–13, 2026, in Carrollton, Kentucky. The newsletter describes it as a scenic, multi-day seminar with a wide range of projects taught by experienced instructors. For weavers who enjoy several days of focused classes and the chance to reconnect with the larger basketry community, this seminar looks like a memorable mid-year destination.
Later in the summer, the Tennessee Basketry Association 2026 Convention takes place July 15–18, 2026, in Cookeville, Tennessee. The email characterizes it as a four-day convention featuring multiple instructors, original designs, and projects for different skill levels. Events like this are often especially valuable for Georgia weavers because they combine technique, variety, and the warm fellowship that makes regional basketry gatherings so rewarding.
Rounding out the year, the Kentucky Basket Association 30th Anniversary Convention is scheduled for October 1–3, 2026, in Somerset, Kentucky. North Georgia Basketry describes it as a supportive, multi-day event with classes, teachers, projects, vendors, and learning opportunities for both newer and experienced weavers, even though the full 2026 teacher list is still forthcoming. It sounds like a fitting way to close the season with both celebration and continued learning.
Overall, this collection of events shows the strength of the regional basketry community surrounding Georgia. From large basket weaving conferences to small sweetgrass workshops rooted in cultural tradition, these gatherings offer weavers many ways to learn, travel, and stay inspired throughout the year. North Georgia Basketry’s event updates continue to make it easier for Georgia basket makers to discover worthwhile opportunities close to home and across the Southeast.
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