Master Craftsperson Eddie Hamrick Demonstrates Under the Sails During Downtown Hickory’s Oktoberfest
HICKORY, NC (September 30, 2016)…Hickory’s Oktoberfest is the place to be on October 7, 8 and 9, 2016 when the festival will be celebrating its 31st year! There will be music, carnival rides, games, food vendors, arts and crafts, vendors and much, much more!
Master Craftsperson Eddie Hamrick will take the stage Under the Sails in the Juried Craft Area, where you can watch him as he creates a Piedmont Wagon.
As the official craftsman of North Carolina, Eddie Hamrick has made it his lifelong mission to advance and exemplify true artisanship. His passion for woodworking, combined with his creativity and skill, have created an artist who is quite sought after. Eddie started his career designing and building quality furniture at Hickory chair. Forty two years later, his career is inspiring. He was ranked as the 7th best furniture designer in the world at the High Point Furniture Market. He has been a North Carolina State Craftsman each year since 1990. Eddie has received Business Awards for Arts and Humanities from Governor Martin and Governor Hunt, and he spent 10 years as the John Campbell Folk School’s Instructor of the Year.
He has had the honor of creating artwork for many illustrious people. His work is sought after by collectors, politicians, musicians and others the world over. Eddie has several pieces in the Smithsonian, with his first piece added in 1972.
Eddie has created gifts for six different presidents. Each of them has been commissioned and was well received. He will be honored to meet President Obama later this year, and he has given him a beautiful, handcrafted banjo as a gift from North Carolina and former Governor Purdue. He also crafted a piece of art for President G.H. Bush. The piece was an ornate bass, as the President was an avid fisherman, and it was prominently displayed in the White House during the President’s tenure there. It now rests at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum. Eddie has been pleased to receive both hand written letters of thanks and historical gifts from these presidents.
Oktoberfest will be open Friday, October 7, from 5:00 pm until 11:00 p.m., with Food Vendors opening at 12:00 pm, Saturday, October 8, from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 9, from 12:00 pm until 5:00 p.m. in downtown Hickory. Make Downtown Hickory your destination the second weekend in October!
2016 Sponsors: Hickory Downtown Development Association, City of Hickory, Food Lion, Sheetz, Party City, Carolina West Wireless, United Beverages, Charter Spectrum, Focus, WHKY , Big Dawg, PDQ, Hickory Jaycees, Acoustic Stage, Hickory Music Factory and L & N Productions.
For more information, please visit our website, www.hickoryoktoberfest.com .