Sometimes the best thought out plans take an unexpected twist. That is the story of how a single post on why and where you should shop for the holidays in Yancey County, North Carolina, has became a two part series featuring this little Western NC town of Burnsville NC.

Included here and in a follow up post, find places to shop, places to eat, updates on the story of the NuWray Hotel and all the reasons to plan a visit this holiday season in general; and the weekend of Nov 14-16, 2025, in particular.

Toe River Arts Studio Tour Weekend: November 14–16, 2025

If you’ve spent any time with me — online, on the road, or standing in line for a cappuccino — you already know I’m already a fan of the area. The little mountain town of Burnsville sits cradled in the heart of Yancey County, and every time I roll in, it feels like I’ve crossed into a pocket of quiet, calm and creativity the rest of the world hasn’t quite discovered yet. Its true, the area is still in a bit of a recovery from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. But now, they really need YOU to come and visit and stay and shop with them and support all the local businesses.

And that’s exactly why this weekend’s Toe River Arts Studio Tour is the perfect excuse for a road trip. Here is a link to the guide book to help plan out your trip. The Toe River Arts Studio Tour offers local and visiting art collectors and supporters the unique chance to meet the artists in their creative spaces. You can spend more time behind the scenes to better understand what goes into the work. But first, book a stay at the NuWray Hotel or in the hotel’s Carriage house in Burnsville. Then, hop in the car point your wheels towards Yancey County, NC.

It’s a Self-Guided Tour; Take Your Time and Enjoy

From November 14–16, more than 80 artists will fling open their studio doors across Yancey and neighboring Mitchell County. Think of it as an artsy treasure hunt that winds through rolling hills, country roads, and the kind of scenery that makes you slow down on purpose. It’s self-guided, low-stress, and wonderfully personal. You meet the makers, learn the process and see the studios where the magic actually happens. And, you can shop for yourself and everyone on your holiday list while you are there.

I’ve followed this tour for years, and many of its artists are folks I’ve written about before on the Blue Ridge Craft Trail. (I’ll link that post here.) But this season brings several new artists and a fresh young face I can’t wait for you to meet.

Studios & Makers You Need to Meet and Know

Burnsville, alone, is home to an extraordinary number of artists – there are 80 on the tour; but these few stops always make my personal highlight reel; and I wanted to share them here.

Page Pottery ( Kristen and J.R. Page)

I adore this husband-and-wife team for their gentle, grounded approach. I am forever collecting their bowls and plates and I love having that little colander right at my fingertips, The clay they use is locally sources and their pieces feel rooted in terrain and craft. Their studio, kitchen garden and gorgeous koi pond near Burnsville are charming and an easy drive from center city. You’ll also find their work at the Toe River Arts Gallery. Be sure to say hello to their two pet miniature donkeys. Shop online and find our more on the Page Pottery website here.

McWhirter Pottery (Pete & Kim McWhirter)

These two have the distinction of being the oldest pottery studio in Yancey County. Their lineage goes back to the 1960s, the hand-drawn designs are still present, and the technique is gorgeous — especially their “sgraffito” style (where clay is dipped in slip glaze and then designs are scratched in). If you love tableware with personality, this one’s a must. Shop online here.

Pieper Glass Studio (Kenny Pieper)

Kenny’s work quietly blew me away: nationally recognized, found in museum collections, and producing delicate stemware and bold sculptural pieces alike. His studio is on the tour, and his technique is something you’ll want to linger over. He has artwork for display and some incredible goblets and glassware to truly dress your table for dinner. See more and contact Kenny here.

MW Studios – Mark Woodham

I’ve admired Mark Woodham’s work around Burnsville for ages, long before I had the pleasure of meeting him in person on this most recent trip. If you’ve stayed at the NuWray Hotel – or eaten at Carriage House Sundries, you’ve already encountered his artistry. All of that beautifully crafted ironwork? And the creative force behind the clever fencing around Roland’s Bar made from repurposed radiators and boiler plates in the NuWray’s courtyard, That’s all Mark. You can see more of his work at the Toe River Arts Gallery on Main Street

In his studio you will see how he blends wood and metal in a way that feels both sculptural and deeply grounded. look for functional pieces and decorative art as well. Mark won’t be in his studio in person this weekend, but you can and should stop in to see his work. The unbelievable, way larger than life, sculpture of Sitting Bull pictured above, is just one of the amazing pieces you’ll see. Get more info here.

And a little pro-tip? This is the studio where you’ll also find Ollie Veitch, a talented young knife maker appearing as one of the guest artists in Mark’s studio this weekend.

Ollie Veitch Metalwork + Knife Craft

Meet Ollie Veitch a young 17-year-old knife maker. Ollie is creating handmade knives, spatulas, and bench scrapers with an astonishing level of precision and artistry. Mark told me all about him and then I read more about Ollie’s work. I called and he and his parents, kindly met me at the Yancey County Farmers Market. He brought a selection of his work and I was absolutely charmed by it all, in particular his single-edged Yanagi knife, a thin beauty designed for slicing fish and seafood with perfect control.
You’ll find this young artisan as a guest in Mark’s studio space during the tour/ And if you fall for his spatulas, bench scrapers or chef-ready knives ( I know you will), he’s not only selling this weekend, but takes custom orders via his website or you can connect with him on Instagram.

Hearth Glass & Gallery – Handblown Glass, Sculptures and Classes

If you’ve followed along on my earlier adventures, you’ll remember I took a glassblowing class here on my last visit. (Here’s the link to that story.)

Hearth is both a working studio and a hub for some of the glass artists featured on this year’s tour: holiday ornaments, blown pumpkins in every personality and size, barware, sculptural pieces, it’s all there.

Hearth is also now home base for William & Katherine Bernstein the artists behind those distinctive face glasses that always make me smile.

And speaking of color and light… we were, weren’t we? On this past trip, I treated myself, and Tom, too; andI brought home a trio of gorgeous hand-blown glass globes to hang on the lights over my kitchen counter.

They’re now hanging in my kitchen, and they brighten the room in the most beautiful way. These are by Steven Ramsey of Stonehouse Glass. Steven also teaches classes at Hearth. Just look at this photo of two of the trio, and you’ll see why I couldn’t leave without them. Get more info on all the artists at Hearth Glass & Gallery and find out how to take a class here.

Levin Glass – Rob Levin

Another must-see/must visit. I had the pleasure of meeting Rob during my last visit to Ynacey County. It all started with a dinner at the restaurant at the NuWray, but that is a story for another time. Stay tuned! For now, know that Rob’s studio is in the little town of Celo in Yancey County.

I was a little surprised to know that I have known his work for years; and if you have been to Burnsville before, you know it, too. If you’ve ever wandered around the Burnsville town square, you’ve already admired his work — that striking wood-and-rock archway near the historic library building and right across from the NuWray Hotel is his.

But above and beyond that, Rob’s glasswork is extraordinary. His glass fruits and vegetables are little marvels of shape and color, and his signature “goblets” , like the fish vase above ( much larger than it seems in this photo), are in a class all their own. See more of Rob’s work and learn more here.

Make a Weekend Out of It

A good studio tour deserves good food, and Burnsville NC makes that deliciously easy.

Before I dive deep into my restaurant recs in my next post, here’s a quick taste of what’s waiting for you around town, from my go-to coffee spots to my favorite bite-and-sip combos:

• Root Down Farm Food Truck – If you’ve seen my IG post about their Friday Fry-Day, you know this is a stop worth timing your trip around. If you haven’t seen the video yet, take a look at it on my YouTube page, here.
• Homeplace Beer Co. – Burgers, wood-fired pizza, local cider, and some of the friendliest folks you’ll meet.
• Live Oak Gastropub – Fried deviled eggs (yes, read that again), a stellar smoked trout dip, shrimp and grits in a dreamy red sauce, and their signature trout BLT.
• Appalachian Java – Breakfast, lunch, coffee, juices and more. A Burnsville standby.
• Main Street Coffee – Home of the “Middlins,” a playful, foam-forward pour that’s unlike anything else — and definitely not related to the heirloom rice version of the same name.
• NuWray Hotel – Dinner in the dining room, the buffet breakfast, and the Carriage House Sundries coffee shop and bakery where the cappuccino with their house-made caramel syrup is my go-to move.

All of that is coming in greater detail in post number two. Consider this your warm-up lap.

Art, Community, and Burnsville NC’s Next Generation: THRIVE Steps Into the Spotlight

Also worth carving into your weekend: THRIVE Appalachia — a mentoring force for Yancey County teens that has quietly been building something magical. These young makers and entrepreneurs get real-world experiences, craft skills, and meaningful connections right here in Burnsville, and this weekend they’re stepping into the spotlight. Their “Fashion & Passion” show on Saturday, November 15 (11 a.m.–1 p.m.) will feature hand-sewn, naturally-dyed garments designed and made by teens, a Southern-style high tea, a live auction, a silent auction, and a quilt raffle. It’s stylish, it’s local, and it’s another reason to show up in Yancey County this week. Learn more here about this amazing Burnsville-based program and learn how you can help to cheer on the next generation of makers (and maybe snag something beautiful while you’re at it.)

Why Burnsville, Why Now?

Because the Toe River Arts Studio Tour and Thrive’s Fashion & Passion event are two of those experiences that brings this whole region to life. You’re not just browsing; you’re stepping into the creative heartbeat of Western North Carolina’s mountains. You’ll be meeting the glassblowers, potters, metalsmiths, painters, and makers who give Burnsville and the surrounding Yancey County area, its unmistakable charm.

You’re pulling into a weekend where shopping local means knowing where your food, your tableware, your art came from; and keeping your dollars in a community where it matters, instead of some national chain or big box store. It’s mountain charm, little-town warmth, and culture wrapped into one.

Now: go ahead and plan your route. Look up studio hours, map your drive, pick the spots you’d like to linger. Because when art is made by someone, you’ll want to slow down.

If you’re in the mood for art, adventure, local flavor, and a weekend you’ll remember, pack your bag and let the mountains do the rest.

And honestly? Forget those big box stores and online giants. The real truth is there’s nothing better than heading into the holiday season with gifts made and stories gathered, straight from the source.

Same goes for shopping with all of the merchants and shops on Burnsville’s Main Street. I can’t wait to share that list. Like I did, you’ll find lots to bring home from refillable and sustainable home cleaning products to books to yarns to candles, to clothing, local NC foods and products and more.

So grab your map, your weekend bag, and your curiosity. Burnsville’s waiting. And while you are making travel plans, check out this fun adventure you might consider making a part of your trip, this time or next time you head up the mountain.

Coming Next: A Stargazing Adventure Above Burnsville, NC

In my next Burnsville post, I’ll share more about food and holiday shopping and the story of our nighttime “day trip” to Mayland Earth to Sky Park, an environmental education park that stretches your perspective from soil to stars. It’s an International Dark Sky Park with 24-hour access to the parking area for stargazing, and home to:

• The Glenn and Carol Arthur Planetarium, with a 36-foot projection dome
• The Bare Dark Sky Observatory, featuring the “Sam Scope,” a 34-inch Newtonian telescope that delivers views you won’t soon forget. Tom and I were fortunate to be in town the same weekend as one of their commungy Viewing nights. They usually coincide with the new moon, so the next Dark Sky event is not this weekend but soon. These book up fast, so make plans now to come back later this month for more

They host public shows, STEM programs, and monthly Community Viewing Nights. Not sure what might be scheduled for this weekend, but if you have questions, they’re wonderfully responsive at observatory@mayland.edu or 828-470-7584.

Like the stars, Burnsville and Yancey County have a way of shining in every season, but during the Toe River Arts Studio Tour, this little corner of North Caroline truly glows. If you’re looking for a fun weekend filled with creativity, color, and a few new treasures to bring home, this is your sign.