Carolina Pottery Festival returns in November
- Staff Reports
- Oct 17
- 4 min read
The Carolina Pottery Festival returns for its 25th year on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the LeGrand Center, in Shelby.
The festival attracts crowds of over 1,000 pottery lovers with close to 100 well-known regional potters showing and selling their work. It is one of the largest “pottery only” festivals in the southeast with a wide range of traditional and contemporary work that is functional, decorative and sculptural. Artists will be available to talk about their inspiration, methods of creation and answer any questions.
This festival, which was started by potters, for potters, continues to celebrate and honor the rich heritage of pottery in our region.
"I'm just amazed that the little show we started at the fair grounds is still going on 25 years later and has grown into one of the largest all pottery shows in the southeast,” stated Bobbie Black, one of the original organizers. “We have had a great team of potters to work with, and the Arts Council has been an incredible help. I hope it can continue to grow for another 25 years. It's hard work, but worth it."
New, this year is the 'Early Bird Admission.' Festival goers can be one of the first to come in and start shopping before the crowds. Have coffee with the potters while you shop, be one of the first 50 and receive a commemorative 25th Anniversary tote bag.
Vicki Gill, of Bluegill Pottery, also one of the original organizers, explained the excitement of the event.
"The Carolina Pottery Festival’s 25th anniversary is so exciting for me because this show has been a great experience as a participating potter in a wonderful atmosphere over all of its years. It’s in my favorite season and is about my favorite art form, pottery!" said Gill.
"The talent of the artists involved always inspires me, and I get to create some very personal pieces exclusively for this show. This year, I designed a limited-edition 25th anniversary ornament, which will be available for purchase from the Arts Council only at the Festival. I can’t wait to see old friends and meet new ones at the festival."
Held at the LeGrand Center, located at 1800 E. Marion St. in Shelby, there will be plenty of free and convenient parking.
Tickets are available in advance and at the door. Regular admission is $8, Early Bird is $10 and can be purchased online:
Early Bird ticket:
The pottery festival is coordinated by the Cleveland County Arts Council. For more information call 704-484-2787 or visit https://ccartscouncil.org/events/carolina-pottery-festival or https://www.facebook.com/CarolinaPotteryFestival.
Participating Potters include:
Lorrie Ayers -- The Layers of Clay
Pamela Bailey -- Pam Bailey Pottery
Tom and Kathy Banfield -- Banfield Pottery
Dianna Bessette -- Glazed Expressions
Bobbie Black -- BH Black Pottery
Elizabeth Cahill -- Elizabeth Cahill by Hand
Kyle Carpenter -- Green Thumb Pottery
Meg Carpenter -- Dirty Pottery Girl
Cathy Cash and Bruce Jordan -- Jordan Mill Pottery
Debbie Chapman -- Skunk Hollow Pottery
David Clark -- Mudslinger Pottery
Lisa Claytor -- Mud Slinger Pottery
Jan Collier -- Happy Toad Pottery
Lisa and Pat Connell -- Connell's Clay
Wendy Converse -- Converse Creations
Cathy Cooper -- Cathy Cooper Pottery
Anissa Craig -- Clay Stories Ceramics Studio
Lourdes (Lu) Cuevas -- Barro Decor LLC
Lexi DeJesus -- The Crafty Caticorn
Rita Diehl -- Diehl's Pottery
Pam Dolin -- More Than Mud Pottery
John Ferraris -- Goneaway Pottery
Sandy Forbes -- Legacy House Clay
Gene and Nan Freeman -- Foo's Pottery
Maria Frey -- Potteria
Michael Gates -- Michael Gates Pottery
Britney Gibson -- Dirty Jeans Pottery
Vicki Gill -- Bluegill Pottery
Mary Grum -- Kickwheel Studio
Corine Guseman - Corine Guseman Ceramics
Mark Guess -- Caveman Pottery
Kim Haig -- Kim Haig Pottery
Vicki Halloran
Dorothy Houlditch -- Red Feather Pottery
Robert and Marti Hovis
Mandy Huffman and Freddie Phillips -- The Porch Potters
Virginia Hurley -- Tigersmoon Design
Becca Irvin -- Becca Irvin Pottery
Misty Johnson -- Misty Mountain Studio
Susan Jones -- Susan Jones Pottery
Melissa and Jeff Kniceley -- Talking Mud Pottery
Michelle and Craig Kovack -- Kovack Pottery
Ed Lane -- Ed Lane Pottery and Design
Mike Ledford -- Joe's Lake Pottery
Dollie Letourneau and Mike Lahr -- Ravenswood Pottery
Nikki and Matthew Lonon -- Lonon Pottery
Amanda Maishman -- Ceramic Sorcery
Keith Martindale -- Keith Martindale Pottery
Pam McLeod -- Pamdora's
Raine Middleton -- Raine Middleton Pottery
Tim Moran -- Celtic Pottery
Olivia Mourglea and Carolyn Walker -- Walker-Mourglea Pottery
Richard Dana Paul -- Peaceful Path Pottery
Deborah Celeste Perkins -- Pottery by Celeste
Mandy Huffman and Freddie Phillips -- The Porch Potters
Remo Piracci -- Pottery by Remo
Lucinda Pittman -- Lucinda Handmade Pottery
John and Scottie Post -- Hog Hill Pottery
Rebecca Reiff and Sally Tatham -- Black Pug Pottery
Gail Richard -- Mud Pie Pottery
John Saunders
Lisa Schmidt -- Everyday Earthenware
Jennifer Schraw -- JLS Pottery
Renwick Price Shealy -- Renwick Arts, LLC
Cris Tadesse -- Crisanthemum Ceramics
Courtney Tomchik -- CF Tomchik Designs
Tom and Abby Whitaker -- Potter at Large
Tricia Woodland -- Woodland Pottery
Richard Wright.
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