The hills will soon cry sweet sounds of music and laughter as WCU prepares for its 50th annual Mountain Heritage Day Saturday, Sept. 28. The celebration runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will feature activities for all ages and interests.
Mountain Heritage Day is a celebration of life in Appalachia and consistently draws crowds from across the southeast. The festival aims to preserve and celebrate the ways of life that make this area so special.
The day will be jam-packed with events across campus – concerts, sporting events, arts and crafts, nationally recognized artists, even a chainsaw competition.
WCU will reign in the 50th anniversary hype by pushing focus toward the craftspeople and vendors. Over 100 artists, demonstrators and crafters from across the region will display their skills in everything from blacksmithing to basketweaving. Crafts of all shapes, sizes and materials will be built, displayed and sold throughout the day.
“We rely heavily on the community itself to help out – people coming in to sell, perform, demonstrate,” said Peter Koch, planning board chair. “This year we’re highlighting a lot of heritage demonstrators, people who make crafts like they did long ago.”
WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center will display and demonstrate a period moonshine still, though it will only pump water.
WCU’s Sport Management Association will beat the heat with their 15th annual 5K Walk/Run from 8-10 a.m. The course snakes its way through campus, starting and finishing in front of the McKee academic building. Eight age brackets will offer winners handcrafted prizes from Mud Dabbers Pottery in Balsam. Proceeds will go to the Sport Management Association Scholarship Fund.
Live music will be heard from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Blue Ridge Stage and Bear Lake Family Circle Stage. Sister Sadie will headline the afternoon shows at 1 p.m. at the Blue Ridge Stage. Other local bands, dancers and entertainers will pack the stages all day – many of whom are WCU alumnus.
Later in the evening, Lindsey Lou will open for Grammy-winning Old Crow Medicine Show in the Ramsey Center. The old-time string band will fill the air with mountain spirit and conclude the 50th anniversary celebration. Admission is free for all students, staff and faculty, though tickets must be reserved prior.
There’ll be a little bit for everyone with programs and events that run the gambit. Just like in years past, the festival will continue its focus on the rich and storied history of Appalachia.
Some highlights include:
10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Chainsaw Competitions
10:00 a.m. – Travis Stuart and Deb Shebish (Blue Ridge Stage)
10:45 a.m. – Junior Appalachian Musicians Blue Ridge & Jackson County JAM (Family Circle Stage)
11:00 a.m. – Big Cove Stickball Team Game (First Bank Stickball Field)
12:15 p.m. – Mountain Heritage Award (Blue Ridge Stage)
12:30 p.m. – Egg & Spoon Race (Intramural Fields)
2 p.m. – Andy Shaw Ford Classic Car Show – Awards Presentation
6 p.m. – Old Crow Medicine Show and Lindsey Lou (Ramsey Center)
