“Real Roots” Take Center Stage at the 36th Blue Ridge Folklife Festival
October 8, 2009
nfaunce@ferrum.edu
Horses, howlers, and hipsters—even a jumping mule with a flair for painting—will share the bill at the 36th annual Blue Ridge Folklife Festival, western Virginia’s largest celebration of living heritage. The Blue Ridge Folklife Festival showcases “real roots” in a one-day family-friendly event like none other. The 2009 festival will takes place Saturday, October 24th, on the campus of Ferrum College. Gates open at 10 a.m. for a full day of activities running through 5 p.m.
One of 13 major venues on the Crooked Road Music Trail, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival highlights music, crafts, foods, dancing, quilting, kids’ games, work horses, hunting dogs, moonshining, vintage tractors, custom cars, and much more. The New York Times has called the festival “thoroughly authentic.”
For 2009 four music stages will offer the best in lively fiddle-and-banjo tunes, bluegrass, ballads, gospel, and blues. At 1 p.m. an afternoon sock hop will reunite two of the area’s ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll groups, The Dazzlers and Don Day & The Knights. For those whose dance tastes lean toward even older styles, mountain dance workshops will explore the artistry of Blue Ridge buck dancing, flat footing, and clogging. Also on stage, retired moonshiners, revenuers, and rockabilly performers will share memories in storytelling workshops.
Fine Blue Ridge crafts are widely appreciated, and nearly 50 folk artisans will be demonstrating their traditional skills, everything from tatting to blacksmithing. Many will have their handmade items for sale. The Blue Ridge Folklife Festival’s 2009 quilt show will also feature dozens of private-collection antique Virginia quilts.
Horse pulling competitions, coon dog treeing and racing contests, sheep herding demonstrations, and the Virginia State Championship Coon Mule Jumping Contest will delight animal fans. At midday “Amazing Grace,” herself a champion jumping mule, will put paint to canvas to show off her artistic side, and her paintings will be auctioned off to the crowd.
A working rock crusher, wheat thresher, baler, grist mill, plus dozens of old engines, and tractors will pulse with the power of old machinery. Additionally, the festival annually includes one of the largest hot rod, restored, and custom car shows in the region.
For youngsters the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival offers a continuous slate of games that entertained earlier generations. When hunger strikes, everything from fried apple pies to black pot chicken will be at hand at dozens of country food booths.
The Blue Ridge Folklife Festival brings together the best of the Blue Ridge’s living roots, covering the campus of Ferrum College. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children and senior citizens. Parking is free. For more information or advance tickets, call 540-365-4412, email bri@ferrum.edu, or visit WWW.BLUERIDGEINSTITUTE.ORG.