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The Hiddenite Arts & Heritage Center’s Celebration of the Arts festival has featured diversely talented artists, crafters, and performers since 1981. This one of a kind arts and cultural heritage festival is held annually on the fourth Saturday in September on Hiddenite Church Road in Alexander County from 9:00am until 4:00pm. Celebration of the Arts is a free admission street festival that features family friendly activities for all ages and hands on opportunities to experience the arts.

Celebration features shopping for fine arts and handmade products, living history demonstrations by skilled craftspeople, four live performance stages with music, dance, and storytelling, an interactive Art in Action area, and so much more!

The Center’s Historic James Paul Lucas Mansion museum, art gallery, permanent collections, and the Alexander County Visitor Center (housed within the Lucas Mansion) will be open for visitors throughout the day. Self-guided museum tours will be available at a reduced cost of only $1 per person on Celebration of the Arts day. All other Lucas Mansion exhibits are free and open to the public.

The festival will include fun activities for children of all ages. Both the young and the young at heart will enjoy giant slides, bounce house activities, and face painting. Numerous food vendors will be on hand to provide a diverse selection of festival food favorites. Spend the day with us and experience unique ways to celebrate the arts!