When the seventh annual Sanford Pottery Festival is held the first weekend in May it will honor renowned Seagrove potter Richard Gillson of Randolph County who assisted Cary native Don Hudson in launching the popular Sanford event. The festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, May 4, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center, 1801 Nash St., Sanford, and inside large tents in the parking lot.

Gillson founded the Seagrove Pottery Festival 27 years ago. He died in January at age 71. No one did more to promote North Carolina pottery in his lifetime than Gillson, said Hudson, who produces the Sanford Pottery Festival. “We want to support Richard’s dream of a museum for Seagrove area pottery,” Hudson said.

An auction to raise money for the Pottery Museum will be held as part of the Sanford Pottery Festival on Saturday, May 3, at 5:15 p.m. in the auditorium of the Civic Center.

“Approximately 125 pieces of pottery and other artistic items are being donated to be auctioned off with proceeds benefiting the Pottery Museum,” Hudson said.

The Sanford event is the largest in the state to celebrate pottery.

“Once a year, we bring together in Sanford the best selection of pottery anywhere, anytime in North Carolina,” Hudson said.

Admission to the Sanford Pottery Festival is $5 each day and free for children age 6 and under. For information call 776-4351. Visit sanfordpottery.com.