The Historical Association of Catawba County and the North Carolina Pottery Center are hosting the 26th Annual Catawba Valley Pottery & Antiques Festival (CVPAF) on Friday, March 24th and Saturday, March 25th, 2023 at the Hickory Metro Convention Center in Hickory, North Carolina.

Friday evening will consist of a special party for Premiere and VIP ticket holders. Premiere tickets are $30 that grants you early buying opportunities that begin at 7:00 PM.

VIP tickets are $75 and will include a southern gourmet meal that begins at 6:00 PM. At which time, VIP ticket holders will have the opportunity to dine with the potters for a meet and greet. VIP tickets also give you the opportunity to be first on the pottery show floor at 7:00 PM, includes a complimentary gift bag, and 2 free drink tickets from the cash bar. VIP ticket holders will also be entered into a special drawing(more information to follow). VIP Tickets must be purchased in advance.

The Saturday show will welcome the public from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM and will offer buying opportunities, pottery demonstrations, and a lecture by renowned potter Ben Owen III. Saturday tickets may be purchased online and at the door.

The goal of the CVPAF is to bring together traditional potters and dealers to create a quality show that will celebrate our region's pottery heritage, one of North Carolina's most treasured cultural resources. The mission of the CVPAF is to foster an educational event where the public may learn about traditional North Carolina pottery, within the wider context of Southern pottery, and to provide an opportunity to purchase, collect, and study this unique cultural resource through contact with working potters and knowledgeable pottery dealers.

To see examples of works that will be in this year's event, please visit our Facebook Album. 

To see our list of participating vendors, please visit Our 2023 Vendor List page.