Dancers from Appalachian Performing Arts entertain the crowd at the Independence Day arts and craft celebration in Spruce Pine. Pictured from left to right is Teagan Boyd, Madison Casteel and Amy Honeycutt. (MNJ photo/Laz Aguayo)
SPRUCE PINE — The parking lot of the Spruce Pine Commons Shopping Center buzzed with activity on Saturday, July 3 during an Independence Day arts and crafts celebration organized by Spruce Pine Southern Shows.
The event, which featured more than 80 local vendors, activities for kids, live entertainment, food and more, got underway at about 9 a.m. and ran until just after 3 p.m.
Organizer Sherry Sautner said she estimates more than 6,000 people trickled into the shopping center to enjoy the show throughout the day.
“The parking lots were full all day with a ton of walking foot traffic for local businesses and restaurants,” Sautner said. “It was another successful event. We had beautiful weather.”
Sautner is no stranger to organizing local events. She organized an Easter-themed event at the Cross Street Commerce Center this past April and a Christmas event in that location late in 2020.
Sautner has said in the past that she aims to stimulate the local economy and highlight local artisans through her events. During the Independence Day event, she appeared on the radio with Bruce Ikard encouraging attendees to head for downtown Spruce Pine after the show to shop, eat and enjoy the town-sponsored fireworks later that evening.
“I was so happy to see people gathering to talk to each other and children smiling and having fun at the Kids Zone,” Sautner said.
In addition to the activities in the Kids Zone that included bounce houses, the Appalachian Dance Group provided live entertainment.
Area musicians also duked it out on the Country Cafe Live Stage in a live battle of the bands. Black Water Station won the battle of the bands and earned a $200 check from The County Cafe.
Professional fiddler William Ritter took home a $100 check as the second-place winner and Crystal and Judge earned third and won a $50 certificate to FireFly Recycled Glass.
In addition to goods directly from local artisans, attendees also enjoyed food from several local vendors.
Sautner said she plans to make the show an annual event and has even bigger plans in mind for the future.
“We will endeavor to have triple the food vendors next year and a beer garden and covered eating area for show guests,” she said. “We hope to help the local businesses within the Spruce Pine Commons Shopping Center as well as Spruce Pine as a whole.”