The Craftsmen's Classic organization was founded 35 years ago by the Gilmore family of Greensboro, NC. Clyde Gilmore, a jewelry maker, wanted to create a "family" of artists and craftsmen, nationwide, that could stage indoor festivals showcasing their totally original works and interact one-on-one with the public. The first such event, the "granddaddy" and prototype of all the others on today's schedule, was the Christmas Classic, Thanksgiving Weekend, at the Greensboro Coliseum.