About the Festival

For over twenty-five years the Town of Mars Hill has sponsored the annual Madison
Heritage Arts Festival, an event Madison County residents and folks from surrounding counties look forward to coming to every year. Starting in 2020, the Rotary Club of Madison County NC took on the responsibility of handling all of the logistics of the festival.

Though traditionally the Festival takes place in downtown Mars Hill, this year it will happen on the beautiful fields between Mars Hill Elementary School and the Dr. W. Otis Duck Memorial Greenway on 200 School House Lane, Mars Hill. Because there will be no on-site parking, a free shuttle service will operate all day between the Festival site and the Ingles parking lot on 225 Carl Eller Road, Mars Hill, NC.

Vendors marketing an array of arts and crafts, along with many other locally produced products will be ready to greet customers from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday, October 5th. Food booths, always popular, will offer a variety of lunch selections. Baked goods, candy and drinks are also available for all to enjoy.

For all of its years, this festival has run concurrently with the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Music Festival which began in 1967. The Lunsford Festival will still be co-located with us at our 2024 home so you can still enjoy music while you browse the festival vendors for great things to buy.

“Exhibitors work hard all year to prepare for the Festival”, says Co-Chairs Phil Reynolds and Barbara Shepard.

“More people are looking for activities close to home. They’re also interested in
purchasing items that are locally made. With so many vendors, the festival provides an excellent opportunity to purchase affordable Christmas and birthday gifts. Pottery, jewelry, handmade scarves and hats, wooden sculptures, painted gourds and local honey are some of the favorite items that will be available.”