Butternut Creek Festival 2009

The 11th annual Butternut Creek Festival was a success for vendors and the community. Not just in numbers of visitors and amount of sales, but also in the variety of quality artwork available. Perfect weather (with below normal temperatures for July) also added an extra special atmosphere to the event this year. People were energetically carrying out armloads of purchases including everything from flying metal pigs to fine art landscapes.

Union County 's Butternut Creek Festival is becoming well known throughout the southeast as a great destination. Automobile tags in the main Meeks Park parking lot revealed cars from as far away as New York and Illinois . A visitor from Atlanta said, "We have been coming for five years now and it gets better every year. I always buy a piece of pottery - that's what I collect."

Quality craftsmanship is always the norm at Butternut Creek Festival, but this year standards went up a notch. Top artists and craftsmen are now vying for a spot along Butternut Creek. Not only has the Butternut Creek Festival been named a "Top 20 Event" by the Southeast Tourism Society, it is also becoming known as great place to do a show. Vendors say the people are friendly, security is top notch, the food is delicious, the music is just right, and Blairsville is one of their favorite towns to visit. This is from seasoned vendors (and these folks do a lot of traveling).

The organizers of the event, High Country Artisans, Inc. do a great job of choosing a rounded selection of art and craft vendors (only a limited number are selected each year). Show Chairman Mike Smith says, "As popularity of the festival grows, so does the number of applicants. It gets harder and harder to juror each year."

The Butternut Creek Festival is a true team effort. With only twenty members, the High Country Artisans work hard throughout the year to make sure the two day event is a success. Everything from public relations to booth logistics to booking entertainment is accomplished entirely by these 20 dedicated volunteers.

The High Country Artisans, Inc. would like to extend a special thanks to Commissioner Lamar Paris and the Union County Recreation Department. Without them the Butternut Creek Festival would not be possible.

Thanks also to the High County Artisans, the artists, craftsmen, sponsors, entertainers, food vendors, and visitors for helping make the entire event a fun, safe, and entertaining weekend. High Country Artisans, Inc is a not-for-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible.