If you like North Carolina Pottery you are in for a treat - The 26th Annual Seagrove Pottery Festival is taking place tomorrow and Sunday in Seagrove, North Carolina.  Since I live in Cary I wrote about taking a daytrip to Randolph County to visit the potteries, the Zoo, and the Richard Petty Museum in Seagrove Pottery and the Ashboro Zoo - A Raleigh Daytrip and Exploring North Carolina in the Fall with the Kids.  This year I recommend a visit to The 26th Annual Seagrove Pottery Festival. 

I've always wanted to visit the potters in ACTION!!  Seagrove is home to over 100 potters and each year they  are kind enough to display their skills at the pottery fest.  One thing that most North Carolina residents don't realize is that the best potters from the Carolinas have learned their trade through many generations of pottery making.  I am also intrigued by the "folk" pottery tradition that has deep roots tracing back to the mid-18^th century. The tradition grew up in Seagrove where folk potters still use local clays; ash, salt and alkaline glazes; and wood-fired kilns.  It's really a throw back to another generation.  Folk pottery designs include face jugs to butter churns to vases. 

The two day festival attracts more than 12,000 pottery enthusiasts, but it is much more than just serious pottery shopping.  There will also be 19th century style craft demonstrations, a civil war reenactment, local food and the very poplular Sunday afternoon aucion of signed, limited edition pottery.  The festival's fame has spread into the national spotlight due to media coverage from shows like "Good Morning America" and "National Geographic Travel". 

Here are a few items that will be featured at this years festival:

• Single-making
• glass blowing
• spinning
• weaving
• rug-making

For kids, the Seagrove school art class has a tent full of activities lined up. Scouts and local churches will provide plenty of festival food fare.  And, of course, all types of pottery including the face jugs.

So what are face jugs anyway?  Potters in Colonial America made moonshine jugs with ugly faces.  The ugly faces were used to ward off evil spirits.  I just love them.

Click here for more information on the potters and participants.  Click here for details on the event.  Seagrove is just an hour and fifteen minutes from Cary and an hour and a half from Raleigh.  If you want to stay overnight, look for Seagrove's new and only bed and breakfast, The Duck Smith House.

Don't miss this fun event!!