2027 Gourd Gathering in Waynesville, NC | Gourd Art Classes, Vendors, and Basketry Inspiration
2027-05-26 - 2027-05-30 | Smoky Mountain Event Center, Waynesville, North Carolina
The 2027 Gourd Gathering in Waynesville, NC, promises to be an exceptional celebration of gourd art and craftsmanship. This prestigious event will feature a variety of gourd art classes tailored for enthusiasts and professionals alike, alongside numerous vendors showcasing their unique creations. Taking place at the Smoky Mountain Event Center, the Gourd Gathering 2027 stands as a highlight in the North Carolina gourd festival calendar, offering inspiration and community engagement for all participants. Join us for this distinguished craft event in Waynesville, NC, and immerse yourself in the vibrant world of gourd artistry. The 2026 Gourd Gathering will be held May 27-31, 2026, at the Smoky Mountain Event Center in Waynesville, North Carolina. This long-running creative gathering brings together gourd artists, basket makers, fiber artists, instructors, vendors, and students for several days of hands-on classes, supplies, shopping, and artistic inspiration.
The event includes workshops, vendor booths, gourd art supplies, tools, demonstrations, and opportunities to learn from experienced instructors. The official event site describes the gathering as more than gourds: a reunion, tradition, destination, and experience.
For basket makers and mixed-media artists, this event is especially valuable because gourd art often overlaps with basketry techniques, including coiling, weaving, pine needle work, rim treatments, embellishment, beads, carving, burning, painting, and sculptural vessel design.
Date: May 27-31, 2026Location: Smoky Mountain Event Center, 758 Crabtree Rd, Waynesville, NC 28785Event Type: Arts & Crafts Event / Gourd Art Classes / Basketry-Related Workshop EventRegistration / Info: https://gourdgathering.org/
The Gourd Gathering in Waynesville, North Carolina, is one of the Southeast’s most creative events for gourd artists, basket makers, fiber artists, and mixed-media makers. Held at the Smoky Mountain Event Center, this annual gathering brings together students, instructors, vendors, and makers for several days of hands-on learning, supplies, demonstrations, and creative community.
Why Basket Makers Should Watch This Event
Basket makers can find valuable crossover techniques at the Gourd Gathering. Gourd vessels can be shaped, decorated, stitched, coiled, wrapped, burned, carved, painted, and embellished in ways that connect naturally with basketry. For weavers interested in expanding their creative toolkit, this event offers a strong mix of traditional craft, surface design, and mixed-media experimentation.
A Creative Retreat in Western North Carolina
Waynesville offers a beautiful mountain setting for a craft-focused trip. Located in Western North Carolina, the area is convenient for makers traveling from North Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and other parts of the Southeast. The Smoky Mountain setting adds to the appeal for attendees who enjoy combining creative workshops with a mountain getaway.
Past event information has included classes, vendors, supplies, tools, make-and-take opportunities, and teacher-led workshops. The event has also emphasized students, hands-on learning, and the importance of promoting the gourd arts community.
For North Georgia Basketry readers, the Gourd Gathering is especially worth watching because gourd art and basketry often overlap in meaningful ways. Many gourd projects include rim treatments, coiling, pine needle work, beads, cordage, carving, burning, painting, weaving, and sculptural vessel design. Basket makers who enjoy learning across related traditions can find fresh ideas for texture, structure, embellishment, and form.
The official Gourd Gathering website describes the event as more than a gourd show. It is a reunion, a tradition, a destination, and an experience. That spirit makes it a strong fit for makers who value both instruction and community.
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Bluegrass Area Basketmakers – 31th Annual Seminar
2027-06-10 - 2027-06-14
Join basket weavers from across the region for the 31th Annual Bluegrass Area Basketmakers Seminar, an established event founded in 1996 and now a favorite gathering for fiber artists.
The 2027 seminar returns to the scenic General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton, Kentucky, offering five days of basket weaving classes, laughter, creativity, and the joy of reconnecting with old and new friends.

Dates & Location

Dates: June 8–12, 2027 (Tuesday–Saturday)

Venue: General Butler State Resort Park

Address: 1608 KY-227, Carrollton, KY 41008, USA

Time Zone: Eastern Time Zone

Getting There: About 3 miles off I-71, Exit 44, between Louisville and Cincinnati. (Locals recommend avoiding GPS backroads if you’re in a hurry.)

Seminar Highlights

Milestone year: Celebrate the 31th Annual Seminar with a vibrant community of basketmakers.

Multiple days of classes & weaving time with a wide variety of projects taught by experienced teachers.

Friendly, relaxed atmosphere focused on creativity, learning, and reconnecting with friends and fellow crafters.

All events take place in the 7,500 sq. ft. conference center and surrounding park facilities overlooking beautiful wooded hills.

You can pair this section with a “Register Now” button that links to the official registration page.

Lodging & Accommodations
All lodging is handled directly by General Butler State Resort Park:

On-site options: lodge rooms, cottages, and an on-site campground/RV park

Room reservations:

Call 866-462-8853

Identify yourself as Bluegrass Area Basketmakers, group #6970

Reservation deadline for lodge rooms and cottages: May 8, 2027 (unreserved rooms/cottages are released to the public after that date).

Campground/RV: Over 100 sites, reserved via ReserveAmerica through the Kentucky State Parks reservation system.

Nearby option: Additional camping is available at Two Rivers Campground in Carrollton (not affiliated with the park) and has been well-reviewed by past attendees.

Non-smoking policy:All accommodations are non-smoking. Smoking is allowed outdoors only; a $100 cleaning fee will be added if smoking occurs inside rooms or cottages.

Meals & Park Policies

Due to licensing and insurance requirements, the park is the sole provider of food and beverages in indoor and outdoor meeting/reception areas. No outside food or drink is allowed in these spaces.

There is an on-site park restaurant for meals, and the seminar committee works with the park to align restaurant hours with the weaving schedule.

Additional fast-food and local restaurants are available within about 3 miles of the park; a list is included in the Welcome Book you’ll receive at check-in.

No cooking is permitted in lodge rooms or on balconies (no hot plates, crockpots, etc.). Cottages are equipped with kitchens and refrigerators.

Classes & Registration

The 2027 class list, project photos, and registration instructions will be available online via Cheddar Up no later than January 2, 2027.

Registration deadline for the 2027 seminar: May 1, 2027.

Class fees are set by the individual teachers; the Bluegrass Area Basketmakers organization itself is not-for-profit.

All listed seminar times follow the Eastern Time Zone.

(For your site, you can link “Full class list & registration” directly to the official Bluegrass Area Basketmakers registration page when it’s live.)
