Gilmore Shows

Experience The Extraordinary at The Craftsmen’s Classics Arts and Crafts Festivals!

The Craftsmen's Classic was founded 36 years ago by the Gilmore family of Greensboro, NC. Clyde Gilmore, a jewelry maker, wanted to create a "family" of artists and craftsmen, nationwide, that could stage indoor festivals showcasing their totally original works and interact one-on-one with the public. The first such event, the "granddaddy" and prototype of all the others on today's schedule, was the Christmas Classic, Thanksgiving Weekend, at the Greensboro Coliseum.

There are now 10 Craftsmen's Classics held annually and throughout the year:

Columbia, SC — Spring	Roanoke, VA — Fall
Richmond, VA — Spring	Chantilly, VA — Fall
Chantilly, VA — Spring	Richmond, VA — Christmas
Greensboro, NC — Spring	Columbia, SC — Christmas
Myrtle Beach, SC — Summer	Greensboro, NC — Christmas

Produced by Gilmore Enterprises, Inc., headquartered in the city of Greensboro, the organization is managed by the late founder's son, Executive Director Clyde Gilmore III, one of the crafts and fine arts industry's most acclaimed and award-winning promoters. The Classic events have been named more often than those of any other promoter to the "100 Best" list by the prestigious Sunshine Artist Magazine and have been named often as "Top 20 Events" by the Southeast Tourism Society. Gilmore can also calculate success by the longevity of the Classics -- most of which are in their 20th to 30th year or more -- and by the tens of thousands of visitors that eagerly anticipate them and attend, year after year.

The hallmark of the shows, from the beginning, is creative excellence and absolute originality in every specialty. Clyde and his wife, Tami, design each Classic with a fine balance of crafts and fine art and the specialties within those areas. There is careful thought given to a balance of traditional and contemporary works as well. More than 6,000 of the country's finest artisans are members; depending on the size of the facility, there are between 250 and 550 participants in a Craftsmen's Classic show.

If you are interested in information on becoming a Classic exhibitor, please click here.

If you have any questions or are unable to locate information you need on our Classics, please contact us.

Please click here to learn more about Gilmore Shows and Gilmore Enterprises, Inc.

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