Old Mill Celebrates 125 Years with Craft Festival on June 18

Old Mill Celebrates 125 Years with Craft Festival on June 18
WHITTIER, N.C. - The fourth annual Summer Craft Festival at the Old Mill 1886 takes place Saturday, June 18.

 

This year's festival not only celebrates arts and crafts of the Great Smoky Mountains, it also celebrates the 125th birthday of the historic grist mill located just south of Cherokee.

 

Two dozen artists will exhibit their work next to the steam on the mill grounds. There will be an array of offerings from basket/chair weaving to jewelry to leather work to quilting. Blacksmithing lessons will be available, and the mill has added gem mining this year.

 

"We hope to see 2,500 to 3,000 people. We want to showcase the Old Mill as she turns 125 years old," says owner Noel Blakely. "Folks can browse turquoise jewelry, antiques and full line of country store foods from fresh corn meal to country ham to all the jellies we can think of, plus eight or nine fresh ciders from the orchard."

 

Food vendors will serve fresh open-pit smoked barbecue and homemade ice cream, while a local band will provide live bluegrass music.

 

Festival hours are 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There's no charge for admission and dogs are welcome.

 

The Old Mill 1886 is located on U.S. 441, one mile south of Cherokee.

 

For festival information, call (828) 497-6536. For lodging and other area info, visit: www.mountainlovers.com.

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