WNC Pottery Festival

November 7, 2026 from 10am-4pm

Railroad Ave Sylva NC 28779

The festival is hosted at the Sylva Bridge Park and will go on rain or shine.

There is a $8 entrance fee.

No dogs are allowed inside the festival.

This juried event showcases more than 40 master potters, with many demonstrations in a variety of techniques.

Come see why it's become a top arts event in the mountains, attended annually by several thousand pottery aficionados.

About

 

The Annual Western North Carolina Pottery Festival -Showcasing Two Decades of Excellence with 46 Master Potters

The 21st Annual Western North Carolina Pottery Festival returns to Jackson County, North Carolina on Saturday, November 7, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bridge Park in downtown Sylva, celebrating two decades as one of the nation’s premier pottery events.

Selected as one of the Southeast’s Top 20 Events and recognized by the Ceramics Monthly Ceramic Arts Yearbook, this event is a popular and highly regarded ceramic arts festival. They attract thousands of collectors, pottery enthusiasts, and visitors each year to experience exceptional handcrafted ceramics from some of America’s finest potters.

“We are incredibly excited to continue the legacy of this popular and nationally respected event,” said Joe Frank McKee, Jackson County resident and co-founder of the festival. “We are proud to witness and play a prominent role in the tremendous growth of this festival over the years.”

This year’s festival will feature 46 juried potters from 15 different states, each selected through a competitive jury process. Festival attendees will discover an impressive variety of handcrafted functional and decorative ceramics representing diverse styles, techniques, and artistic traditions. The 2026Featured Potter is Courtney Tomchik of Clemmons, North Carolina with her gorgeous multi-dimensional sculptural wall art.

“The WNC Pottery Festival brings together some of the most experienced and talented potters from across the country,” McKee said. “With 22 of our 46 potters coming from out of statebringing an extraordinary range of beautiful ceramic wares, this is a must-see event for pottery lovers everywhere.”

In addition to browsing and purchasing exceptional handmade pottery, visitors can enjoy live wheel-throwing and Raku-firing demonstrations throughout the day, providing a rare opportunity to watch nationally recognized ceramic artists at work.

The festival’s reputation extends beyond visitors to the artists themselves. First-time exhibitor Christina Bendo praised the event, saying, “It’s always a great sign to see other artists at a show happy and having a good time.  After this weekend, it’s obvious why that was the case: you all have put in many years of work into making the show a success and a joy to participate in, with a real hometown family kind of feel and lots of excited and educated pot buyers.”

Fellow potter Clay Savely echoed that sentiment, describing the festival as “An amazing day that felt like a big happy familyreunion!” and praises such as, “Thanks for everything that you all do for the ceramics community.”

Conveniently located at Bridge Park, 76 Railroad Avenue in downtown Sylva, the festival is easily accessible from Highway 74, Exit 83, with abundant public parking within walking distance.

Admission is $8 per person, cash only please and includes a raffle ticket for a chance to win pottery during two separate prize drawings at noon and 2:30 p.m. Children under 12 are admitted free. To ensure the safety and comfort of all attendees and exhibitors, pets are not permitted.

Visitors are encouraged to join the email list at www.wncpotteryfestival.com to be notified about the 30-minute early entry to the show! Also, for more information, news, links to social media and participating potters please visit www.wncpotteryfestival.com.