“Hard Candy Christmas” Fine Art and Craft Show will celebrate 25 years from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 23-24, at the Ramsey Center Arena at Western Carolina University. The show, which gets its name from a simpler era when folks enjoyed the season with stockings of hard candy and gifts made by hand, will present a selection of arts and crafts from the southern Appalachians. The two-day show features a variety of items from basket weavers, potters, wood carvers, quilters, furniture makers, blacksmiths, glass blowers, doll makers and more. Holiday items available include candles, ornaments, trees, wreaths and peanut brittle.
This year’s featured artist is Debra Parker Romero of Buford, Ga. A sculptor and owner of Old World St. Nicks, Romero specializes in creating an original handmade Santa, elves and other figures and ornaments. Her work is currently on display at the Biltmore House.
Admission is $4 per person, with children under age 12 admitted free. There is no charge for parking.
828.524.3405, 800.962.1911 or www.MountainArtisans.net.
Stephen Dobyns has written 20 novels and more than 10 volumes of poetry; however, he is difficult to “classify.” His writing is praised by big league names as varied as Francine Prose and Stephen King, but he is most famous for a “sexual harassment” charge brought against him while he was teaching at Syracuse University (allegedly, he was overheard making “salty and crude” comments at a party).
