The Floyd Artisan Trail June Tour returns for a 3-day event at over 40 sites across Floyd County with activities at artisan home-studios; galleries and shops; farms and farm markets; and restaurants and lodging sites that promote local food and art.
“The Artisan Trail is a great way to help visitors and residents connect with local arts and agriculture not only in town, but at sites across the entire county,” said Floyd Tourism Director Pat Sharkey. Site activities include studio tours, sales and exhibit of local fine art, hand-crafted items and farm products, as well as classes, demonstrations, live music, and talks at sites throughout the county.
This year the tour will feature many new and returning makers of all kinds. Artisan studios feature fiber arts, jewelry, pottery, fine arts, woodworking, mosaic work, and even gourd crafts. Galleries and shops include art association cooperatives, the historic Old Church Gallery, The Floyd Country Store, local galleries and businesses representing numerous Floyd artists, and host organization, The Jacksonville Center for the Arts.
On the agritourism front, there will be an array of participants, including a number of local organic farms and farm stores, Blue Ridge Center for Chinese Medicine’s medicinal herb gardens, garden design, an alpaca farm, and Spikenard Honeybee Sanctuary. Some of Floyd’s talented eateries are also included on the tour such as Dogtown Roadhouse and Grateful Bread Bakery. Out of town visitors are encouraged to seek lodging with another great tour stop, Hotel Floyd.
Demonstrations on woodworking, painting, beekeeping, glassworking, and even luthier demos will take place among the sites. Some activities will be scheduled on specific times and others on-going throughout the tour.
Tour hours are Friday, June 10, 10am-5pm; Saturday, June 11, 10am-5pm; and Sunday, June 12, 12-5pm. During the tour, visitor information will be available at the Floyd County Visitor Center, and at The Jacksonville Center for the Arts. Visit either site for brochures, directions. Check out some of the other activities going on at The Jacksonville Center during the tour including an opening reception for three new exhibitions, and on-going demos in glassworking, blacksmithing, and pottery. For more info: email [email protected] or call 540-745-2784.
