Virginia Highlands Festival 76th Annual - Juried Arts and Crafts Show 2025

The Virginia Highlands Festival Juried Arts and Crafts Show celebrates its 76th anniversary July 25 - August 3, 2025. Located in historic Abingdon Virginia across from The Barter Theater, the show features spots on the Barter Green and the historic Martha Washington Inn Lawn. This established fine arts and craft show accepts both contemporary and traditional submissions and offers artist access to over 22,000 patrons from three states over a 10-day celebration of Appalachian culture. Both 5-day and 10-day spots are available. The show was voted Blue Ridge Country Magazine's Best Arts and Craft Show of 2022, 2023, 2024; Sunshine Artist 200 Best Shows of 2022; and Virginia Living Best Festival 2024.

Only original craft or art, made by hand by the submitting artisan, is eligible. Categories include Basketry, Candles, Clay, Decorative Glass, Decorative Metal, Drawing, Etching, Fiber-Wearable, Fiber-Non-Wearable, Gourmet Foods, Jewelry, Leather, Mixed Mediums, Painting, Paper, Photography, Sculpture, Soap, and Wood. Artists must submit 5 product images and 1 booth shot. Four jurors score submissions on a scale of 1-4, with their cumulative score determining acceptance. Applications received before March 1, 2025 will be juried on March 5 and notified by March 10.

The festival includes amenities such as free loading/unloading assistance, complimentary bottled water, booth sitting services, and access to electricity on the Barter Green. Artists who jury in and pay before March 20 receive a listing in The Highlander Magazine. The festival features multi-media marketing including print, radio, billboards, and a website logging over 30,000 unique visitors from June 1-August 15.