29th Annual Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival

Name: 29th Annual Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival
Start: 2026-03-27T09:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-03-28T17:00:00-04:00
Location: Hickory Metro Convention Center

Schedule

Fri, 27 Mar, 2026 at 09:00 am to Sat, 28 Mar, 2026 at 05:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

Hickory Metro Convention Center | Hickory, NC

Coming up March 27th & 28th at the Hickory Metro Convention Center in Hickory, NC. The North Carolina Pottery Center will be there with an informational and shop booth, and we want you to join us!
2026 marks the 29th Annual Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival! This year’s theme, Crafting America: 250 Years Through Pottery and Antiques, celebrates the nation’s rich artistic and cultural heritage through the lens of Southern craftsmanship. The festival continues its mission to honor and preserve the legacy of Catawba Valley’s alkaline-glazed stoneware and the skilled potters who keep this traditional craft alive.
Historically, local potters worked from home sites using wood-fired kilns and relied on word-of-mouth sales. The CVP&AF was founded to recognize that heritage by creating an annual event where pottery made in the Catawba Valley—and beyond—can be showcased and purchased.
Over nearly three decades, the festival has grown to feature talented potters from across North Carolina and the greater South, along with dealers offering historical pottery and antiques that provide a broader context for understanding the history and use of pottery in the South.
We are especially excited to welcome Mary Farrell as our guest lecturer on Saturday, March 28th, who will share her insight and expertise as part of this year’s celebration of craftsmanship and heritage.
The festival will be held on Friday, March 27th & Saturday, March 28th, 2026, at the Hickory Metro Convention Center in Hickory, NC.
The CVPAF is a non-profit event which benefits the Historical Association of Catawba County in Newton, NC and the North Carolina Pottery Center in Seagrove, NC. More than $500,000 has been donated to these institutions over the past 20+ years.
Friday evening will feature an exclusive early buying experience and a special opportunity for ticket holders to meet and mingle with the artists. Tickets are $50 and include early buying privileges beginning at 7:00 PM along with an Americana-themed meal and a relaxed evening spent connecting with the potters and artists. VIP Tickets must be purchased in advance!
The Saturday show will welcome the public from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and will offer buying opportunities, pottery demonstrations, and a lecture by Mary Farrell! Saturday tickets may be purchased online and at the door.
The goal of the Catawba Valley Pottery and Antiques Festival (CVPAF) is to unite traditional potters and dealers in a high-quality show that celebrates our region’s rich pottery heritage—one of North Carolina’s most cherished cultural traditions. The festival’s mission is to create an educational experience where the public can explore traditional North Carolina pottery within the broader context of Southern craftsmanship. It also offers visitors the unique opportunity to purchase, collect, and study this enduring art form through direct interaction with skilled potters and knowledgeable dealers.