48th Annual Fall Tennessee Craft Fair

The Fall Tennessee Craft Fair returns to Centennial Park from Friday, October 9, to Sunday, October 11, its 48th year running. It takes over the Great Lawn at 2500 West End Avenue, outdoors and right next to the Parthenon, so you'll have the city's most famous replica as your backdrop while you browse.

The fair is run by Tennessee Craft, a nonprofit that's been championing the local fine craft movement since 1965. It's grown into a Nashville tradition, ranked among the top 25 premier craft art fairs in the country and drawing around 45,000 visitors every year. The selection is juried and covers clay, fiber, glass, metal, mixed media, paper, and wood.

What really sets it apart is the rule that artists have to be on-site. You aren't just buying a piece from a booth; you're meeting the person who made it and getting to hear how they turn raw materials like clay, wood, metal, and glass into finished work. That conversation is a big part of the experience. The weekend also includes hands-on activities in the Kids' Tent, food from area vendors, and live artisan demonstrations throughout.

This year marks a new addition: the Emerging Artist Program, a curriculum-based mentorship for artists that grew out of the fair's Emerging Makers Tent. It's a way for the organization to support makers who are still finding their footing in the craft world.

Admission is free to the public. The fair runs from 10 AM on Friday, October 9, through 6 PM on Sunday, October 11, at the Great Lawn of Centennial Park.