Ferrum College - The Ferrum Newsstand

• Stumping" by political candidates, where candidates will stand upon a tree stump and state their case for the citizens, in the historic tradition of yesteryear's election races. Starting at 11:00 a.m. (Both candidates in the 2000 Virginia governor's race gave stump speeches at the Folklife Festival that year.)

• Three stages of music, including a special Anniversary Stage, which will feature old-time string musicians who performed at the Festival in the 1970s. Performers will include Whit Sizemore's Shady Mountain Ramblers, Jim Marshall's band, the Orchard Grass String Band, Spence Moore & Friends, Wayne Henderson's band, and Kinney Rorrer's New North Carolina Ramblers.

• More than 100 quilts from 2 countries and four states in the Mountain Comforts Quilt Show on the first floor of Vaughn Chapel. This is the 15 th anniversary of the quilt show.

• Over 20 old-time foods--from fried apple pies to black pot chicken--which are prepared by local civic and church groups as a means of fundraising, thereby generating dollars to be used in the community.

• Nearly 50 craftspeople, many with goods to sell, will demonstrate the hand skills they have learned from family members and neighbors.

• Coon dog water races and draft horse contests will highlight the abilities of working animals.

• Dozens of vintage cars, street rods, race cars, and antique tractor displays will showcase the Blue Ridge's mechanical history.

• A petting zoo, with authentic farmstead animals, and an old-time games area will provide entertainment for children.

30TH ANNUAL FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL TO BE HELD TOMORROW Tens of Thousands Expected for Anniversary Celebration
For immediate release:		Contact:
October 24, 2003		Roddy Moore, (540) 365-4416, rmoore@ferrum.edu
Since 1973, a lot has changed locally, including the annual celebration of regional heritage and culture, the Blue Ridge Folklife Festival. But the 30 th Anniversary of the Folklife Festival will feel like a step back in time as performers craftspeople, and vendors who appeared at the original Festival return. The event, which the New York Times had called "thoroughly authentic," will take place tomorrow, October 25, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine on the Ferrum College campus. Among the featured events are
	• Stumping" by political candidates, where candidates will stand upon a tree stump and state their case for the citizens, in the historic tradition of yesteryear's election races. Starting at 11:00 a.m. (Both candidates in the 2000 Virginia governor's race gave stump speeches at the Folklife Festival that year.) • Three stages of music, including a special Anniversary Stage, which will feature old-time string musicians who performed at the Festival in the 1970s. Performers will include Whit Sizemore's Shady Mountain Ramblers, Jim Marshall's band, the Orchard Grass String Band, Spence Moore & Friends, Wayne Henderson's band, and Kinney Rorrer's New North Carolina Ramblers. • More than 100 quilts from 2 countries and four states in the Mountain Comforts Quilt Show on the first floor of Vaughn Chapel. This is the 15 th anniversary of the quilt show. • Over 20 old-time foods--from fried apple pies to black pot chicken--which are prepared by local civic and church groups as a means of fundraising, thereby generating dollars to be used in the community. • Nearly 50 craftspeople, many with goods to sell, will demonstrate the hand skills they have learned from family members and neighbors. • Coon dog water races and draft horse contests will highlight the abilities of working animals. • Dozens of vintage cars, street rods, race cars, and antique tractor displays will showcase the Blue Ridge's mechanical history. • A petting zoo, with authentic farmstead animals, and an old-time games area will provide entertainment for children.
"With the anniversary plans and the forecast of fantastic weather, we are expecting a record year in attendance and a grand party for our 30 th year celebration," said Roddy Moore, director of Ferrum College's Blue Ridge Institute & Museum, the official State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore. The 30th Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival will be held October 25th, rain or shine. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and youths under 16. For more information, contact the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum at (540) 365-4416 or by email at bri@ferrum.edu. Additional information and directions to Ferrum are available at www.blueridgeinstitute.org and on the Blue Ridge Music Trails website www.blueridgemusic.org. # # #

Politicians To “Stump” At The 30th Anniversary Of Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival
For immediate release:		Contact:
October 14, 2003		Roddy Moore, (540) 365-4416, rmoore@ferrum.edu
Local and regional candidates will be campaigning in the old-time way—speaking from atop a stump—at the annual Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival on the campus of Ferrum College. Marking its 30th anniversary, Virginia’s largest celebration of regional folkways will take place Saturday, October 25, 2003, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., rain or shine. A highlight of this year’s Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival will be “stump speeches” by politicians running for office. For generations the stump speech was a common part of political campaigning, and candidates would typically stand on a stump and speak to the surrounding crowd. (Both candidates in the 2000 Virginia governor’s race gave stump speeches at the Folk Life Festival that year.) The Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival will also be celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special stage of musicians who performed at the festival in the early 1970s. Among the featured musicians will be Whit Sizemore’s Shady Mountain Ramblers from Grayson County, Jim Marshall’s band from Carroll County, the Orchard Grass String Band from Franklin County, Spence Moore’s group from Smyth County, Wayne Henderson’s band from Grayson County, and Kinney Rorrer’s New North Carolina Ramblers from the Virginia-Carolina border. These musicians play the best of the old-time string band music for which the Blue Ridge is well known, and a number of them have been honored by Heritage Awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, recordings by the Library of Congress, or performances at Carnegie Hall. Known for its presentation of authentic traditions, the Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival covers the Ferrum College campus with the tastes, smells, sounds, and enjoyment of western Virginia folkways.
	• Over 20 old-time foods—from fried apple pies to black pot chicken-- are prepared by local community groups.. • Nearly 50 craftspeople, many with goods to sell, demonstrate the hand skills they have learned from family members and neighbors. • Three music stages offer string band music, gospel, blues, balladry, and early bluegrass throughout the day. • The Mountain Comforts Quilt Show presents over 100 of the region’s finest quilts. • Coon dog and draft horse contests highlight the abilities of working animals, while the vintage car, street rod, race car, and antique tractor displays tell of the Blue Ridge’s mechanical history. • Children will delight in the petting zoo and old-time games area.
“Folkways are a fascinating part of our heritage, and like no other event, we showcase a variety of the old-time traditions that are still a part of Virginia’s rural lifestyle,“ said Roddy Moore, director of Ferrum College’s Blue Ridge Institute & Museum, the official State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore. The 30th Blue Ridge Folk Life Festival will be held October 25th, rain or shine. Admission is $7 for adults, $6 for senior citizens and youths under 16. For more information, contact the Blue Ridge Institute & Museum at (540) 365-4416 or by email at bri@ferrum.edu. Additional information and directions to Ferrum are available at www.blueridgeinstitute.org and on the Blue Ridge Music Trails website www.blueridgemusic.org. # # #