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Schedule

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, September 28, 2024 in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

The festival will run from 10:00am and close at 4:00pm.

General Activities

Festival Activities - Discover all our vendors for this year including the juried arts and crafts show, food vendors, and local non-profit organizations. There are over 100 vendors with thousands of unique items to choose from.

Kids Activities - Family fun for all ages! Take a wagon ride, learn traditional crafts, try your hand at old-time mountain skills, learn new dances and more. Be sure to stop by the Children's Tent for activities.

Cherokee Games - One of the most important elements of Mountain Heritage Day is the influence and culture of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The annual stickball demonstration is a highly ritualized contest you won't want to miss. 

Andy Shaw Ford Classic Car Show - They just don't make them like they used to! Showcase your classic automobile (25 years or older) in Mountain Heritage Day's Andy Shaw Ford Classic Car Show. Visitors can stroll amongst the beautiful machines and cast votes for their favorites.

Music - Bluegrass, Acoustic, Old-Time, Roots, Country, Mountain Swing, and Gospel, just to name a few. With two stages and dozens of performers, you'll want to dance the day away.

5K Race - The 5k Race is organized and hosted by the students at Western Carolina University Sport Management program. The money that is raised will go to help fund the Sport Management Association Scholarship.

McNeely’s Chainsaw Competition - Try your hand at this activity! The competition will be carried out in five categories: Homeowner, Box Stock, Stock Appearing, and Open.  There will be ten classes of saws:

  1. Class “E”
  2. Class “D”
  3. Class “C”
  4. Class “B”
  5. Class “A”
  6. Class “AA”
  7. “Hot Saw”
  8. AA Modified Motorcycle Parts 
  9. Cross Cut Saw (two person teams)
  10. One-man Bucking Saw
  11. Vintage Saw 

There is a fee for each entry and must be 18 years or older to enter.  
rules and Registration

Mountain Heritage Skills, Crafts and Historical Demonstrations

  • Davy Arch, Carving
  • Atsila Anotasgi Cultural Specialists, Basket Weaving and Finger Weaving
  • Ken Austin, Wood Turning
  • Chris Behre, Shaker Boxes
  • Nathan Bush, Copper Smithing
  • Nate Darnell, Tractor Rides
  • Bill Douglas, Broom Making
  • Debbie Douglas, Basketry
  • Kevin Fountain, Hit and Miss Engines
  • Deborah Freeman, Barn Board Quilts
  • Helen Gibson, Wood Carving
  • Butch Goings, Wood Carving
  • George Edward Goings, Flint Knapping

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    Louise Goings, Basket Weaving

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    Jeff Gottlieb, Kudzu Baskets

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    Green Energy Park, Glass Blowing

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    Sarah Hirsch, Spinning

  • Claudia Lampley, Wool Rug Hooking
  • Joyce Lantz, Quilting

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    Susan Leveille, Weaving

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    Brock Martin, Blacksmithing

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    Mountain Heritage Center, Moonshine Still

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    Juanita Pell, Chair Seats

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    Perry Rhyne, Spoon Carving

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    Susan Rhyne, Wool Applique

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    Nan Smith, Beading

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    Ron Smith, Banjo

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    Dede Styles, Natural Dyeing

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    Cheryl Thompson, Pottery

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    Richard Tichich, Quilting

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    Joe Williams, Berry Buckets

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    J R Wolfe, Copper Smithing

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    Nathan Woods, Horse and Mule Team

Stages, Tents & Stickball

Ingles Blue Ridge Stage & Front Porch

The Bear Lake Reserve Family Circle Stage

First Bank Stickball Field

McNeely’s Chainsaw Competition

Andy Shaw Ford Classic Car Show


Ingles Blue Ridge Stage & Front Porch

dancing in front of stage

10:00 A.M. - Travis Stuart and Deb Shebish (Blue Ridge Stage)
10:45 A.M. - Deitz Family (Front Porch)
11:15 A.M. - Whitewater Bluegrass Co. (Blue Ridge Stage)
12:00 P.M. - Bailey Mountain Cloggers (Blue Ridge Stage)
12:15 P.M. - Mountain Heritage Award (Blue Ridge Stage)
12:30 P.M. - Phil and Gaye Johnson (Front Porch)
1:00 P.M. - Sister Sadie [MHD Daytime Headliner] (Blue Ridge Stage)
2:15 P.M. - Traditional Dance Showcase (Front Porch)
2:45 P.M. - Balsam Range (Blue Ridge Stage)
3:45 P.M. - Green Grass Cloggers (Blue Ridge Stage)

 


The Bear Lake Reserve Family Circle Stage

Child playing guitar

10:00 A.M. - Sacred Harp Shape Note Set
10:45 A.M - Junior Appalachian Musicians with Blue Ridge JAM & Jackson County JAM
11:30 A.M - Christian Harmony Shape Note Set
12:15 P.M. - Jackson County 4-H Presentation
12:45 P.M. - Old Time Circle with Phil Jamison
1:45 P.M. - Traditional Appalachian Dance Demonstration
2:15 P.M. - Atsila Anotasgi Cultural Specialists, Cherokee Dance Program
3:00 P.M. - Davy Arch, Cherokee Storyteller


First Bank Stickball Field

Members of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians playing stickball.

11:00 A.M. - Big Cove Stickball Team Game
12:30 P.M. - Egg & Spoon Race
12:45 - 1:45 P.M. - Cornhole Tourament (Please arrive by 12:45 P.M. if you wish to participate in the Cornhole tournament. Participation will be limited to the first 24 people.)
1:00 P.M. - Jump the Creek
1:15 P.M. - Sponge Relay 
1:30 P.M. - Atlatl Throwing
3:00 P.M. - Black Powder & Atlatl Demonstrations

All times and titles tentative


McNeely’s Chainsaw Competition

chainsaw competition

9-10 A.M. - Registration
10 A.M. - 12 P.M. - Chainsaw Competitions
12:15 P.M. - Awards Presentation

 

 


Andy Shaw Ford Classic Car Show

Car show

9-10 A.M. - Registration
2 P.M. - Awards Presentation

 


Schedule is subject to change.

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