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Western Carolinian Volume 59 Number 05

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  • Western Carolinian Mountain Heritage Day Section Page 9 19th Annual Mountain Heritage Day held September 25 Beginning a bit after sun-up on Saturday, September 25, just a hoot and holler down the Cullowhee Valley, there's going to be a woop-de-doo...a mountain-style celebration. It's the 19th annual Mountain Heritage Day at Western Carolina University, a renewal of the Southern Appalachian spirit with fiddlin', clog-dancin', ham-eaten', cider-sippen', contestin' and tale-swappin'. Time was, when summer gave way to fall, the hard work of raising crops, putting up food and making ready for winter gave way to the urge for merry-making and neighbor-meeting. That remains the essence of Mountain Heritage Day, although the event has grown into one of North Carolina's premier festivals, attracting some 35,000 visitors. Mountain Heritage Day's appeal is the same each year—traditional mountain music, dance and food, and authentic crafts and exhibitions in a lovely mountain setting. Western's Mountain Heritage Center, a museum of Appalachian history and culture, is the heart of the celebration. The museum's new exhibition "Corn: MiUingJillingandStilling"and its accompanying multi-image production will open on Mountain Heritage Day. The exhibit traces the story of corn from the plains of Central and South America to the southern Appalachian region, emphasizing the uses, production and importance of corn to Native Americans and pioneers. A segment entitled "Cornucopia" shows the many items that can be crafted from corn. And local craftswcman Annie Lee Bryson will give a demonstration of corn-shuck crafts during the afternoon. In the center's Founder Auditorium, mountain dancers will perform traditional dance styles of the early 1900s, before clogging was popular. | Traditions and trades ranging from storytelling to black- smithing. Basket mak- Jing will be demon- strated on the Mountain Heritage Center lawn throughout the day. Among the performers and demonstrators on campus will beCherokee Indiancrafters from the nearby Qualla Boundary of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, shape-note singers of the "Sacred Harp" and "Christian Harmony" styles, woodcarvers, potters, basket makers, gunsmiths, quilters, weavers, rug makers and needle crafters. More than 200 booths will offer handmade items. There are several just-for-fun contests throughout the day such as canned and baked goods contests, a country run, an old truck show, horseshoe pitching, a chain-sawing competition and an old-timey costume contest that is a favorite for children. The daylong celebration has been listed as one of the Southeast's top events. It also has received several state and regional awards and has been featured on public television and in national magazines. The«"e is no admission charge for Mountain Heritage Day. Close-in parking is limited, and comfortable shoes are recommended. Special parking is available for handicapped people. Free shuttles operate throughout the day. In case of rain, the festivities will be moved into the Ramsey Regional Activity Cen- • ter.
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Object’s are ‘parent’ level descriptions to ‘children’ items, (e.g. a book with pages).