Calling all artists, artisans, creatives and craftspeople of all trades. Applications are now being accepted for Christmas Connection 2023. The two-day event will take place November 10-11 at the Meadowview Conference Resort and Convention Center.
“The Christmas Connection – Artistic Creations Fair” is sponsored by the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and is celebrating its 44th year of artistic creations. The event hosts the region’s best craftspeople, artisans, artists, and creatives. People from our region and beyond look forward to the Christmas Connection year after year.
Application deadline is July 1, 2023, and there is no cost to apply. Christmas Connection is by invitation only. All applications are reviewed by a selection committee, taking various factors into consideration to create a high quality, attractive show having a good mix of artistic and craft creations.
2023 DATES/HOURS:
Free admission to the public
Fri. Nov. 10: 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Sat. Nov. 11: 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
To access the vendor application from the city website, and for more information visit https://bit.ly/43xL6WU.
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2023/06/CC_logo.23Circle-01.png800800Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2023-06-01 09:57:192023-06-01 09:59:42Deadline July 1st! Apply to the 44th Annual Christmas Connection – Artistic Creations Fair
OPEN CALL for Art and Craft Vendors for Christmas Connection 2022!
Kingsport, TN – Calling all artists, artisans, creatives, and craftspeople of all trades! Applications are being taken for those wishing to exhibit in this 2-day event, taking place on November 11th & 12th, 2022 at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium.
“The Christmas Connection – Artistic Creations Fair” is sponsored by the City of Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts and is celebrating its 43rd year of artistic creations in 2022! A very well established cultural event in Kingsport, the event hosts the region’s best craftspeople, artisans, artists, and creatives. People from our region and beyond look forward to The Christmas Connection year after year.
Application deadline is July 1, 2022. There is no cost to apply. Christmas Connection is by invitation only. All applications are reviewed by a selection committee, taking various factors into consideration in order to create a high quality, attractive show having a good mix of artistic and crafting creations.
This year’s Christmas Connection will take place the second weekend in November, due to elections being held at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium.
2022 DATES/HOURS:
FREE Admission to the public!
Fri. Nov. 11: 10AM – 7PM
Sat. Nov. 12: 10AM – 7PM
Applications deadline is July 1, 2022.
Here is a link to download the 2022 application packet:
The Office of Cultural Arts (OCA), part of the City of Kingsport, connects, coordinates and engages the public with a creative community. We operate the Renaissance Arts Center, the Farmer’s Market, the Kingsport Carousel, Kingsport Public Art Program, Engage Kingsport Performing Arts Series, and a broad range of support to the area’s arts organizations. The OCA works in tandem with Engage Kingsport, Inc., the “Friends of the Cultural Arts” group, a private, volunteer-led 501(c)3 non-profit community organization.
About the City of Kingsport
Founded in 1917, the City of Kingsport (pop. 53,000) is located on the Tennessee-Virginia border at the crossroads of I-81 and I-26 near the geographic center of the eastern U.S. The city is widely known as a planned community, designed by renowned city planner John Nolen and wrapping around the foot of Bays Mountain – a 3,500 acre park, nature preserve, planetarium and observatory. Kingsport is recognized as an International Safe Community by the National Safety Council, a Healthier Tennessee community, and won the 2009 Harvard Innovations in American Government Award for its higher education initiatives. While many city names are duplicated throughout the U.S., there’s only one Kingsport – a fact that invokes community pride, known locally as the “Kingsport Spirit.”
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2022/03/RevisedMtnEscapes_CC22.quarterpageAD-01-01.png14641329Beth Estephttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngBeth Estep2022-06-06 12:00:082022-12-05 15:40:59Open Call for Vendors for The 2022 Christmas Connection!
The beloved Christmas Connection is celebrating 40 years of bringing some of the region’s best arts and crafts vendors to Kingsport. Whether you are refreshing your home décor, trying to find that perfect gift, or treating your taste-buds, the Christmas Connection is here to connect you just in time for the holiday festivities! You can find unique gifts and support artisans in our region. Free Admission all weekend.
As the weather turns colder, the Civic Auditorium will be filled with a warm holiday glow to put customers in a holiday mood for shopping. The sights, sounds and smell of Christmas will surround shoppers as they shop from over 60 artisan vendors.
What you will find…
Country crafts, home décor, fine woodcrafts, leather crafts, handmade soaps and lotions, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, stained glass, herbal products, hand-built pottery, fabric crafts, needlework, American Girl doll clothing, pet accessories and clothing, candles, dichroic glass, handmade greeting cards and paper art, snowmen, santas, reindeer food, candied pecans, lavender products, miniature figurines, baked goods, and much more will be available for purchase from these talented artisans and crafters.
Make sure to take your taste-buds into the West Room, where you’ll find the “Sugarplum Café.” This special café is exclusive to the Christmas Connection, providing mouthwatering sandwiches, soups, and snacks for the shopper on the go, or those wanting to linger longer for a meal. Outside, attendees can purchase treats from the food truck favorite Auntie Ruth’s Doughnuts.
Joining the merry 40th celebration, talented local musical groups will provide live music from the stage, to serenade customers as they shop. Shoppers also have the opportunity to learn about the replica of the Santa Train being built, as a part of the Kingsport Model Train Project. Model Train volunteers will be on hand to share their knowledge and talent with the public and explain this craft form in more detail.
Whether you have been visiting the Christmas Connection for 40 years or you are trying it out for the very first time, this artisan and craft fair has something for you! Kingsport’s Annual Christmas Connection, a free admission event, is to be held November 1-3 at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium and is sponsored by the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts.
For more information on the Christmas Connection event, please visit www.EngageKingsport.com or call 423-392-8414.
https://arts.kingsporttn.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2019/09/2019-Ad.jpg800818Jennifer Rogershttps://engagekingsport.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2017/10/logo_hor.pngJennifer Rogers2019-09-27 10:02:382019-11-13 15:24:20Celebrating 40 Years of Artisans & Crafters in Kingsport! Join us for The Christmas Connection – Artistic Creations Fair
Kingsport, Tennessee – Kingsport’s 38th Annual Christmas Connection, a free admission event, is to be held November 3-5 at the Kingsport Civic Auditorium. Sponsored by the Kingsport Office of Cultural Arts, Christmas Connection hosts the region’s best arts and crafts vendors.
The Civic Auditorium will be filled with holiday wreaths & floral arrangements, primitive & country crafts, Christmas ornaments, pottery, stained glass, woodcrafts, handmade soaps and lotions, fabric crafts, needlework, doll clothing, jewelry, dichroic glass, handmade greeting cards and paper art, leather crafts, paintings, figurines, candles, baked goods and much more!
Continuing in the 2017 show, courtesy of Bubba’s Book Store, several regional authors will be on hand each day to sign their books in the Civic Auditorium West Room. Also in attendance this year are the artists from Kingsport’s Senior Artisan Center. Their crafts will be set up in the Civic Auditorium History Room.
Outside, attendees will find kettle corn and fried food items available for purchase. Country favorites will be served on stage at the Christmas Connection Café, and baked goods from Kingsport Ballet and Suzuki Talent Education will be at the entrance of the Civic Auditorium.
With the holidays fast approaching, Christmas Connection is a great place to find unique gifts and support master craftsmen in our region.
Renaissance Arts Center & Theatre