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Schedule

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, September 30, 2023 in Cullowhee, North Carolina.

The festival will run from 10:00am and close at 5:00pm.

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 120 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 four 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 

There is a fee for each entry.  
rules

Chainsaw Carving Demonstration - 1:00 PM immediately following the McNeely’s Chainsaw Competition in the same location.  (Not part of the McNeely’s Chainsaw Competition)

Mountain Heritage Skills, Crafts and Historical Demonstrations

  • Louise Goings, Cherokee basket weaving
  • Butch Goings, Cherokee wood carving
  • James JR Wolfe, Copper Smithing
  • Nathan Bush, Copper Smithing
  • Dede Styles, Spinning and Natural Dying
  • Brock Martin, Blacksmithing
  • Susan Leveille, Weaving
  • Kevin Fountain, Hit and Miss Engines
  • Nathan Woods/Ethan Fortner, Horse & Mule teams
  • Nora Mosrie, Corn Shuck Crafts

Stages, Tents & Stickball

Harrah’s Blue Ridge Stage

Children's Stage

Circle Tent

Shape Note Tent

Stickball Field

McNeely’s Chainsaw Competition

Andy Shaw Ford Classic Car Show


Harrah’s Blue Ridge Stage

dancing in front of stage

 

Information Coming Soon!


Children's Tent

Performer playing guitar at Mountain Heritage Day

 

Information Coming Soon!


Balsam/Circle Tent

Child playing guitar

 

Information Coming Soon!


Shape Note Tent

Shape Note tent performance

 

Information Coming Soon!

 


Stickball Field

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

 

Information Coming Soon!


McNeely’s Chainsaw Competition

chainsaw competition

 

Information Coming Soon!

 


Andy Shaw Ford Classic Car Show

Car show

 

Information Coming Soon!

 


Schedule is subject to change.

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