Hickory – Today, the Historical Association of Catawba County announced that the 21st annual Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival (CVP&AF) will take place Saturday, March 24, at the Hickory Metro Convention Center. This acclaimed event brings together 110 potters and vendors from across the southeast to exhibit and sell their unique artistry and craftsmanship, including historical pottery, textiles, folk art, baskets and furniture.
Saturday’s festival also includes pottery videos, live demonstrations and a special lecture and exhibit: “The Hilton Family Potters from Craft Art,” presented by Dr. Terry Zug. The Hilton family of potters worked in the Catawba Valley from the late 1800s into the early twenty-first century (nearly 300 years!). The exhibit, curated by Dr. Zug, demonstrates the family’s skills and products as they changed over time – from traditional jars & jugs to sculptural forms like dolls & log cabins. The lecture is at 11:00 a.m. and is included in the Saturday ticket price.
The CVP&AF will also host the Friday Night Preview Party on March 23 from 7-10 p.m. at the Hickory Metro Convention Center featuring a Southern supper, cash bar and live music. The Preview Party is the primary fundraiser for the festival and provides guests with the opportunity to purchase festival items early. And new this year, all Preview Party ticket buyers will be entered in a drawing for a $200 gift certificate to be used on Saturday at the festival. To be eligible, tickets must be purchased by the March 16 deadline. The raffle winner will be announced during Friday’s event.
Tickets for the Friday Night Preview Party are $45 and include admission into Saturday’s festival. These can be purchased online or through direct mail (see direct mail directions below). Tickets for Saturday’s festival are $6.00 for adults, $2.00 for children ages 3 to 12, and can be purchased at the door. For more information about the CVP&AP, please visit http://www.catawbavalleypotteryfestival.org.
Additional event details below: Friday Night Preview Party, Friday, March 23 from 7–10pm. Hickory Metro Convention Center, 1960 13th Ave. Dr. SE, Hickory, NC 28602. Tickets: $45 each (includes admission to Saturday’s festival). Purchase Online OR Purchase By Mail: Download and fill out an order form, include a check or money order and mail to: CVPAF/Party, P.O. Box 2583, Hickory, NC 28603.
Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival, Saturday, March 24 from 9am–5pm. Hickory Metro Convention Center, 1960 13th Ave. Dr. SE, Hickory, NC 28602.
Tickets: $6 for adults, $2 for children ages 3-13. Tickets purchased at the door.
About the Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival
The CVPA&F began in 1998 with a mission to showcase the history of Catawba Valley alkaline glazed stoneware and the potters who continually produce this traditional utilitarian ware. Development and growth have allowed the festival to include potters from across the state and the South, as well as dealers offering historical pottery and antiques, providing a context for understanding the history and use of pottery in the South. The Festival is a non-profit event benefiting the Historical Association of Catawba County in Newton, and the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove. More than $500,000 has been donated to the institutions over the past 18 years.
Stacy Lambert Cow Milk jug
