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:
- Class “E”
- Class “D”
- Class “C”
- Class “B”
- Class “A”
- Class “AA”
- “Hot Saw”
- AA Modified Motorcycle Parts
- Cross Cut Saw (two person teams)
- One-man Bucking Saw
- Vintage Saw
There is a fee for each entry and must be 18 years or older to enter.
rules and Registration
Monday
From Ulster to Appalachia: Who We Are When We Speak
Monday September 22 / 5:30pm
UC Theater
This public lecture invites you to explore Appalachian English as something far more: the living language of our mountain home, carrying the story of where we came from, how we’re tied to the region and its people, and where we might go next. Co-presented by WCU English Studies faculty member Dr. Erin Callahan and her former linguistics student Wyatt Wilson— a fourth-generation WCU graduate— the lecture traces the historical roots of Appalachian English, from early settlement patterns and language contact (including 18th-century Scots-Irish influence) to its distinctive sounds, grammar, and vocabulary.
Tuesday
Mountain Heritage Field Day at WCU
Tuesday September 23 / 9:30am to 1:30pm
WCU Picnic Area
[Rain plan same day/time in UC]
Regional elementary school classes will experience the traditions of Southern Appalachia through hands-on crafts, cultural demonstrations, and interactions with regional tradition bearers. This free educational event is part of WCU’s expanded Mountain Heritage Days celebration. It is available to schools with advance registration on a first-come/first-served basis.
A Hike through History: Plants and People in Southern Appalachia
Tuesday September 23 / 5:30pm
HHS Trails
[Rain date Wednesday September 24, 5:30pm]
Led by brothers Daniel and Luke Manget, this hike will be 2 miles along a WCU trail that meanders through a variety of plant communities in a northern hardwood forest typical of the southern Appalachians. These plants have stories. The people who have lived in the southern Appalachians, from the Cherokee to the Scots-Irish to Latinos, have long relied on them for food, medicine, and cash. Some have brought people small fortunes. Others have killed people. Come hear Luke and Daniel tell some of these stories while learning more about the natural and cultural history of Appalachian flora and fauna.
Wednesday
Appalachian Craft Demonstrations
Wednesday September 24 / 11:30am to 1:30pm
WCU Catafount
[Rain plan same date/time in WCU UC]
As part of WCU’s 2025 Mountain Heritage Days, the Appalachian Craft Demonstrations at the WCU Catafount offer a hands-on experience of the region’s rich artistic traditions. Set in the heart of campus, this engaging event showcases skilled artisans practicing time-honored techniques. Visitors can watch, learn, and connect with the cultural heritage of the Southern Appalachians in a relaxed, open-air setting that celebrates creativity and craftsmanship.
Thurs & Fri
A Rooted in the Mountains
Thursday September 25 and Friday September 26
Bardo Arts Center
This year’s theme “Matrilineal Worldmaking (Vision of What’s Possible)” honors the power of matrilineal societies, where kinship, inheritance, and identity are traced through the mother’s line. These visionary leaders will share insights on Indigenous knowledge, reproductive sovereignty, and the enduring strength of matrilineal traditions. Featured Topic: Doula Training and the Historical Significance of Birth Supporters. In the Kituwah language: Di gi tsi/ de da li he li sdi sgv/ i de hv i To acknowledge and give thanks to our mothers for our life/lives. Learn More
Friday
Hurricane Helene Anniversary Observance
Friday September 26 / 10 am to 2 pm
WCU Catafount
[Rain plan same date/time move listening booths to WCU UC]
Join us for a reflective and meaningful experience in observance of the anniversary of Hurricane Helene’s impact on our region. Drop by the Listening Booth at the Catafount anytime between 10 AM and 2 PM to hear oral history recordings that capture personal stories and community responses to the storm. A QR code will also be available for those who prefer to listen on their own devices. At 12:00 PM, the Alumni Tower bells will play, followed by a moment of silence at 12:10 PM.
Pickin’ in the Park with The Well Drinkers
Friday September 26 / 6pm
Bridge Park in Sylva
As part of Western Carolina University's 2025 Mountain Heritage Days celebration, Pickin’ in the Park with The Well Drinkers promises an unforgettable evening of music and community. Set against the scenic backdrop of Sylva’s Bridge Park, this outdoor concert features The Well Drinkers, a progressive original bluegrass band known for their dynamic sound and fresh take on Appalachian traditions. Attendees are encouraged to bring a seat and settle in for a lively performance that blends innovation with heritage, all in the heart of the mountains.
Saturday
Balsam Family Tent
11:00 Upstream Rebellion
11:45 J-Creek Cloggers
12:00 storytelling with Ashton Woody
12:30 Stuart, Spence, & Shebish
1:15 storytelling with Davy Arch
Intramural Field
11:30 Big Cove Stickball Demonstration Game
Pickin’ Circle
11:00 Banjo Circle moderated by Susan Pepper
12:00 Jackson County JAM and Blue Ridge JAM
1:00 Redemption and Renewal Circle moderated by Susan Pepper
2:00 Open Jam
Bardo Arts Center
10:00 Museum Opens
11:00 Art Faculty In-Studio Demonstrations begin
3:30 Mountain Heritage Awards Presentation
Burnette Sisters Band
Bailey Mountain Cloggers
Schedule is subject to change.
