Grassroots Appalachia Announces Operating Hours, Opening Week Schedule of Events
LENOIR, N.C. – Grassroots Appalachia, a new venture here dedicated to working with others to create conditions favorable for community life, has announced its Hours of Operation and first week’s Schedule of Events. It will open with an art exhibit on Tuesday, Aug. 18.
Our partners – musicians, artisans, teachers and others –wish to pass on vital Appalachian traditions and folkways to subsequent generations. They will be doing so during our opening week’s activities.
Located at 458-B Harper Avenue, the venue includes an Art Gallery; Retail Space; a Book & Magazine section which includes local literature and Our State magazine; a Listening & Gathering Space; Educational Programming & Activities, in particular in the arts and crafts, as well as space for adult learners and homeschooling families. Also available are locally hand-crafted wood and metal furniture and novelties from Barrick Design Co.
Grassroots Appalachia’s exhibits, retail products and events are all based on a Fair Trade approach with the intention of creating opportunities for cottage industries to emerge to the benefit of Appalachian communities.
We will be open Wednesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. However, our operating hours will be subject to change depending upon events, weather and other factors.
Opening Schedule: “An Exploration: Creating Conditions Favorable for Community Life” a three-day event, begins with an art exhibit. This opening event is intentionally reflective of our purpose and passion. It is also an example of modifying our hours, as outlined below.
Tuesday, Aug. 18: 6:30 – 8 p.m.: Art Exhibit reception
Wednesday, Aug. 19: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Hands-on arts, crafts and Appalachian traditions
Thursday, Aug. 20: 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Focus on Caldwell County authors and books
Saturday, Aug. 22: Closed
We will reopen on Wednesday, Aug. 26 per our usual schedule.
In a subsequent article, we will provide additional insight into each of our week’s teachers and speakers and their work; until then, below is a brief sketch of each day’s activities and those guiding them:
Tuesday, Aug. 18 @ 6:30 – 8 p.m.: Art Exhibit, “An Exploration: Creating Conditions Favorable for Community Life.” It considers people and places from the past through the storytelling brush strokes of Fred Boger (1857-1936), a painter of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Learn more here.
Wednesday, Aug. 19– Arts & Crafts: Beginning about 11:30 and working throughout the day, Karin Davidson will be weaving, teaching and giving others an opportunity to contribute to making a community tapestry; At 2 – 3:30 p.m. Gretchen Griffith will teach fly tying, a much-desired skill set to the home of Wilson Creek and anglers throughout Western North Carolina; From 6:30 – 8 p.m., Amber Shoemake will be teaching art & crafts – a guaranteed fun time for all ages! Read more here.
Thursday, Aug. 20 – Focus on Caldwell County authors and books: At 11:30, the Foothills Writing Group will introduce themselves, share some of their work and have a pot luck lunch until 1:30; From 2 – 3:30 p.m., Gretchen Griffith will join us again, as she is also a local writer. She will be speaking on her books about women, her knowledge of some of the county’s influential women of the past, and tying the importance of women to the Conditions Favorable for Community Living; We end the day with a multi-media presentation from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., as Tony Deal will be reading from and discussing his book– “But that’s not true!” He will be joined by the illustrator of the book, Tonja Smith.
About Grassroots Appalachia
We believe Appalachia’s greatest resource is her people. Helping to create conditions favorable for community life is why Grassroots Appalachia exists. We work to connect and cultivate Appalachian people and traditions in Lenoir and beyond. Grassroots Appalachia is located at 458-B Harper Ave. in Lenoir. We are on the web at grassrootsappalachia.com.
© Michael M. Barrick, 2026
Source: Grassroots Appalachia Announces Operating Hours, Opening Week Schedule of Events