Dillsboro’s Colorfest
Dillsboro’s historic Front Street will become an open-air showcase for regional craftsmanship when Colorfest returns on Saturday, October 3, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free annual festival will bring more than 40 artists and makers to town, with pottery, fine art, jewelry, fiber arts, woodworking, seasonal crafts and other handmade work on display. Live music and entertainment will take place throughout the day, and visitors can park at Monteith Park and use a free shuttle to access the festival. The Dillsboro Creative Arts Center will also hold its monthly Maker’s Market adjacent to the festival.
Woodworker and longtime Dogwood Craft Co-op member Chris Behre will be at the festival selling his wooden wares.
“I have been working with wood since I was a young child,” Behre says. “At first I was just hammering wood together and pretending, using my imagination.”
Chris Behre, artist
That childhood interest gradually became a hobby and then a serious pursuit, eventually leading Behre to Western North Carolina. He joined Dogwood Craft Co-op in 1998 and is also a longtime member of Woolworth Walk’s community of crafters in Asheville. Behre’s work ranges from wooden toys that can be made relatively quickly to pieces requiring days of work.
“It is hard to say how long pieces take,” Behre says. “Some of my toys, like Gee Haw Whimmy Diddles, may take a few minutes, while Shaker Boxes take about six days to complete.”
The materials vary just as much as the time required to make each piece. Behre chooses his woods according to their purpose, particularly when creating functional objects.
“Kitchen items are usually cherry or maple since they are close-grained wood that do not allow food particles or add to taste,” he says. “Whenever possible, I try to use traditional wood depending on what I am making. I do a good deal of woodturning and use local woods. Of course, some of it depends on what I have available. I have a large variety of items because I do not want to stick to just making a few things over and over.”
That variety fits naturally into Colorfest, where visitors can encounter dozens of artists working across different mediums. The festival builds on Dillsboro’s longstanding reputation as a mountain arts destination while giving visitors an opportunity to meet makers and explore the town’s shops and restaurants.
“Colorfest is one of Dillsboro’s annual traditions,” says Sheldon Reed, director of the Dillsboro Merchants Association. “It’s a day when our town shines with artistic energy, shared community pride and a heartfelt commitment to local creators.”
Learn more at DillsboroNC.org.
