21st annual Saluda Arts Festival set for May 16

SALUDA—Regional artists and springtime visitors will fill Main Street for the 21st Annual Saluda Arts Festival on Saturday, May 16, a one-day event that blends fine art, live music, and family activities in the town’s historic downtown.

The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature more than 95 artists offering original, handmade work. Organizers say the longtime event has become a seasonal tradition in the western North Carolina foothills, drawing both returning exhibitors and first-time participants.

A wide variety of media will be represented, including watercolor, oil, and acrylic painting, pottery and ceramic sculpture, wood furniture and turned vessels, metalwork, blown and fused glass, and fiber art. Visitors can also find handcrafted home goods and personal care items such as soaps, creams, and candles.

Festivalgoers can begin their visit at the Information Booth, located in front of Looking Glass Realty, where maps, artist listings, and booth locations will be available. Beyond the artist booths, the event offers activities for all ages. The Children’s Activity Tent, located at the McCreery Park Pavilion, will feature face painting, juggling, balloon animals, a magician and hands-on art projects. The tent is supported through a grant from the Saluda Fund of the Polk County Community Foundation.

Live music will take place throughout the day on the Ella Grace Mintz Stage in McCreery Park, beginning at 11 a.m. with Mountain Song Chorus. The community chorus, which began in Saluda and now includes more than 40 members from across the foothills, performs a range of vocal music under the direction of Mark Powers.

At 1 p.m., Haylie and the Satellites will perform. The group formed through informal collaborations at Salud, a Saluda wine and bottle shop known for hosting local musicians. Led by multi-instrumentalist Haylie Land, the band includes guitarist Will McCrary and percussionist Mark Lauer and has developed a sound shaped by a shared interest in roots and contemporary styles.

Highway 52 will close out the afternoon lineup at 2 p.m. The acoustic blues and Americana group features Bill Loftus on guitar, harmonica, and vocals; Mike “Country” Carver on guitar and vocals; Paul McIntire on electric violin; and Lauren Bandy on standup and electric bass. The band performs a mix of traditional material and original songs.

Music for the festival is underwritten by Howard Hanna/Beverly-Hanks, Realtors.

Organizers have arranged multiple parking options to accommodate visitors. Event parking will be available in a field next to Saluda Cemetery on Old Macedonia Road, with shuttle service running approximately every 15 minutes between the lot and downtown. Shuttle stops are located at the cemetery and near the Information Booth.

Additional parking is available in the municipal lot on East Main Street, at Saluda Elementary School, and in other designated public areas. Attendees are asked not to block private streets, driveways, or lots. Signs will direct drivers to parking areas and shuttle stops.

Courtesy golf carts, provided through a gift from Looking Glass Realty, will circulate along Main Street to assist visitors who need transportation between festival areas.

The Saluda Arts Festival is supported by a range of local sponsors. The Children’s Activity Tent is funded by the Saluda Fund of the Polk County Community Foundation, while music sponsorship is provided by Howard Hanna/Beverly-Hanks, Realtors. Visitor golf carts are sponsored by Looking Glass Realty.

Platinum sponsors include Autumn Care of Saluda, Kelly and Brett Brannon, Todd Kolb, and a tribute to Barbara and Robert Seiler by Sarah Seiler and Martha Seiler Wynn. Gold sponsors include Barbara and Scott Cardais; Jim Carson Studio/Gallery; Rush Dixon Architects; Elm and Owl Gallery; Green River BBQ; Gaile and Jerry Greenhoot; Mary Jane and David LaFave; Don Mintz Builders; Roger O’Connell Insurance Agency; Purple Onion; Spring Creek Interiors; Pam, Clark, and Jonathan Thompson; and Wakey Monkey.

Silver sponsors include Charles Street Garden, Edward Jones–Stephanie Winterrowd, Mountain Sky Builders, River Dog Run, Saluda Depot, Saluda Outfitters, and The Saluda Inn.

With its mix of art, music, and small-town atmosphere, the Saluda Arts Festival continues to highlight the region’s creative community while offering a relaxed way to spend a spring day in the mountains.