An Appalachian Lifestyle Celebration will come to downtown Waynesville from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June, 11. The festival is a heritage-themed event providing educational and entertainment opportunities for guests of all ages, where traditional crafts are demonstrated and offered for sale. Two stages will feature live entertainment throughout the day.
Four-time Grammy award-winner David Holt and Grammy nominee Josh Goforth will join together to bring old-time mountain music and stories to audiences. Holt and Goforth combine guitar, banjo, fiddle, slide guitar, mandolin and rhythm instruments from hambone (body slapping) rhythms, to spoons, stump-fiddle, rhythm bones, jaw harp, and even paper bag.
Michael Reno Harrell, a songwriter and veteran storyteller, along with The Hominy Valley Boys and the Hill Country Band and other favorites will also perform.
Former N.C. state senator Joe Sam Queen will lead a square dance at 12:30 p.m. at the center stage.
Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy storytelling by local authors, folk toys, arts and craft, vintage tractors and tools. Watch demonstrations of basket making, blacksmithing, quilting, weaving, woodworking, wood carving, pottery, painting and soap making. Traditional food will also be offered.
828.456.3517 or visit downtownwaynesville.com.
Stephen Dobyns has written 20 novels and more than 10 volumes of poetry; however, he is difficult to “classify.” His writing is praised by big league names as varied as Francine Prose and Stephen King, but he is most famous for a “sexual harassment” charge brought against him while he was teaching at Syracuse University (allegedly, he was overheard making “salty and crude” comments at a party).