Floyd Arts & Crafts Festival: 50 Years and Still Growing Strong
-The following first appeared in Floyd Times on October 8, 2025.
The Annual Floyd Arts & Crafts Festival is one of the most well-attended events in the county. With approximately 180 vendors, Saturday’s festival filled two Floyd County High School gymnasiums and spread out onto the school grounds, making it a hub of activity and a shopper’s best chance for finding unique handmade items.
Susan Leonard, the festival’s vendor coordinator and Floyd County Woman’s Club member said the Arts & Crafts Festival started over 50 years ago. The Woman’s Club took over sponsorship in 1983 and has been running it ever since.
“This is our fundraising event for our club and all the money that’s made goes back into the county,” she said.
Fellow Woman’s Club member Joan Earman added that they have many different causes they donate to, such as scholarships for the high school, local fire departments and rescue squads, the library and other organizations that benefit the community.
Gladys Vaughn, a Floyd County baker, said she had a line of people waiting to buy her pies and cakes when she opened her booth at 9:00. She sold out of her fried apple pies by 11:00 but still had cakes.
Angela Thurston was a return customer for one of those cakes. “Last year I got one and had to get another one,” she said.
Vaughn’s daughter, Florence Williams, who was assisting her mother with booth duties, said they mostly sell Vaughn’s crafts and desserts by word of mouth. The business picks up with the Arts & Crafts festival and orders come in through Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Vaughn also makes tents that she originally created for Barbie dolls. Williams held one up and reported that they have also been used for kittens, puppies, GI Joes and even a ferret.
“A little boy was looking today, and he wants one for Christmas for his lizard,” Williams said.
A group of women from the Christmas for Children Program, a non-profit under the Floyd County Cares umbrella, was selling their handmade Christmas ornaments as a fundraiser. Along with organizing donations for Christmas gifts for children from low-income families, the group also sponsors The Dolly Parton Imagination Library for Floyd County. 
“We register children to get a free book from Dolly every month. We’re raising funds to cover the postage,” said Christmas for Children volunteer Amy Helm.
Seven-year-old Gwayla Yard-Gralla, likely the youngest vendor in attendance, was selling her handmade woven potholders. “Do you like to cook?” That was her marketing line that drew in customers.
Yard-Gralla shared her booth with her sister Quinn Yard-Gralla, who displayed her original artwork, done in pastels, paint, watercolors, colored charcoal pencils. Friends Analiese and Alina Hess presented an arrangement of crocheted items for sale at the booth.
Food concessions were available in the high school cafeteria and on the school grounds. The fall weather was sunny and warm. Parking lots were generally full, and shuttle buses provided transportation from the Floyd County Courthouse and the Floyd Recreation Park to the popular October event.
Photos: 1. The early October Floyd Arts and Crafts Festival always draws shoppers. 2. Vendor coordinator and Floyd Woman’s Club member Susan Leonard (center) working for next year’s vending roster. Also pictured is Woman’s Club member Joan Earman. 3. Iva Bukkila shows off her rag rug and placemat creations. 4. A craft festival attendee purchases a bandana for his dog from Bailey Showalter. 5. Mother and daughter vendors Gladys Vaughn and Florence Williams. Williams holds up a handmade Barbie tent. 6. Angela Thurston purchases a cake made by Gladys Vaughn. 7. Vender Donna Campbell, from Independence VA, makes fabric wrapped cotton clothesline baskets. 8. Choosing a pottery mug as the potter, Sandra Horton looks on. 9. Christmas for Children volunteers pictured are (left to right) Karen Doyle, Lori Saltus and Amy Helm. 10. Young venders Alina and Analiese Hess, Quinn and Gwayla Yard-Gralla strike a pose. 11. Seven-year-old Gwayla Yard-Gralla engages with a shopper. 12. Twelve-year-old Quinn Yard-Gralla. 13. Shopper browses the Mountain Metal Welding and CNC Plasma Shop display. 14. Wade Orchard’s produce booth did a brisk business.
October 14th, 2025 10:07 am
It appears in your pics and write ups to be a fun and edible craft fair. I was wondering if the baker who makes, pies & cakes – is she the one who bakes your carrot cake on your Birthday?
I wonder what her recipe is for fried apple pie would be – have you ever tried it?
October 14th, 2025 1:16 pm
I just met Gladys the baker at this event but had met her daughter before. Fried apple pie is a southern thing, I guess. While I was taking to them someone came up to ask for one but, of course, they were sold out.