A working Christmas tree farm. Bold outdoor tile murals and intricate indoor mosaics. Stunning, unexpected vistas. Shady lanes leading to welcoming households and studios. Artistic creations suitable for every taste and budget. Visitors will find all these and more on the fifth annual Come to Leicester Artists Studio Tour 10–6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, August 21 and 22. For this year’s free, self-guided tour, 22 members of the Leicester Artists will be working from 17 shops and studios located throughout the Leicester community.

“This year, we have four artists joining the tour for the first time,” says tour organizer Doc Welty. “New artists, new locations, and new pieces by every- one in the group keep the tour fresh and give our visitors something interesting to see each year. Leicester offers endless surprises, both in terms of the variety of artists living here and the creative breadth of their work.”

To get to the tour, head northwest on Leicester Highway (NC 63) from Patton Avenue and follow the canary-yellow signs to the studios, the first of which is only 15 minutes from downtown Asheville. As an alternative, take Newfound Road to Morgan Branch Road and follow the signs to the Wildberry Lodge Bed and Breakfast on Potato Branch Rd. Wildberry, the founding sponsor of the tour, will have samples of each of the artists’ works to help you plan out your visits. The B&B also can be reached from Leicester Highway.

The tour will feature a food stop located centrally on South Turkey Creek Road where food and refreshments by Jus-Q Barbeque will be available for sale both days.

Copies of the detailed tour map will be available at every stop along the tour. For more information, visit cometoleicester.com or the group’s Facebook page (Come to Leicester Studio Artists).