Join us at A Place To Go for food, resources and a bouncy house to celebrate and connect with the African American Community of Henderson County
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43rd Annual Heritage Day
Join us for an early autumn Saturday honoring Appalachian Culture & the crafts of yesteryear on the Blue Ridge Parkway!
There will be performances by regional bands as well as craft demonstrations throughout the weekend.
FREE PARKING
*Picnics on our grassy lawn are encouraged*
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List of Participants:
Martha Owen- Spinning, angora rabbits, storytelling and music
Barbara Miller- Weaving…she’s a legend
Dede Styles- Natural Dyeing and a natural way of life
Lyle Wheeler- Chairmaking
Tony Dills- Birds created from carved wood. He learned from two area legends: Phil Brown and Edsel Martin
Ronnie McMahan- Woodcarver specializing in cardinals. He is a fine teacher for children and adults alike
Rita de Maintenan- Crochet
Mary Nichols- Spinning
Cassie Dickson- Woven coverlets
Marlow Gates of Friendswood Brooms- He learned to make brooms from his Dad
Sandra Rowland and Nora Mosrie- Children’s Projects
Connie Brown- Quilts- she makes them, she appraises them, she teaches about them
Tom Godleski- He makes walking sticks, many with snakes circling around. Musician (his band is Buncombe Turnpike) award-winning playwright and storyteller
Anthony Cole- Sheep Shearing
John Dickens- Woodcarver. Each carver creates work that is very distinctive.
Peter Werner- Broom making
Collene Karcher- Stone carving. She is inspired by nature and lives close to the land.
Rodney Leftwich- A virtual treasure trove of knowledge on mountain pottery traditions. He makes a wide variety of clay forms, has written a highly informative book on the history of pottery in the Asheville area.
Entertainment Schedule includes:
10:00 Janet Wiseman and The Highlights
11:00 Newfound Gap
12:00 Blue Eyed Girl
1:00 Buncombe Turnpike
2:00 43rd Annual World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition
3:00 Spilt Rail
Storytelling by Ashton Woody
At the front entrance of the FAC throughout the day
Parents Night Out (7-15 yrs)
Drop off your kids with us anytime between 5-9pm for a fun night of video games and a variety of board games! Pizza dinner is provided.
Family Silent Disco Fundraiser, benefitting Rebuild Jones Park
Family Silent Disco Fundraiser at Rabbit Rabbit, benefitting Rebuild Jones Park (being rebuilt and renamed as Candace Pickens Memorial Park) to help raise funds to feed their hundreds of community volunteer workers during the rebuild. Hosted by DJ Drew. All ages welcome! $5/Admission.
WHAT HAPPENED TO JONES PARK: Back in 2021, Jones Park, the playground near the Ira B. Jones Elementary School in Asheville closed suddenly after the playground ranked 14.7 out of 100 in a safety inspection. A total of 59 issues were found with the playground, including ADA accessibility, drainage and deterioration of equipment, and the playground was shortly thereafter torn down, leaving a major deficit in play spaces for families in that area. But, the community rallied together and raised the funds to rebuild, and that rebuild is happening this coming October! ABOUT REBUILD JONES PARK (and how you can help monetarily or through volunteering to help with the build happening October 4th-8th): https://www.rebuildjonespark.org/ ABOUT SILENT DISCOS: It’s a blast! A silent disco is a dance party where people dance to music listened to on wireless headphones. Rather than using a speaker system, music is broadcast via a radio transmitter with the signal being picked up by wireless headphone receivers worn by the participants.
ABOUT CANDACE PICKENS: Jones Park will be now be named in honor of Candace Pickens, a 22-year-old woman who was murdered there in May 2016 in an act of intimate partner violence. Pickens grew up going to Ira B Jones Park, and took her young son there as well, as it was one of their favorites. She was killed on her then 3-year-old’s son birthday at the park. She had taken him to the park to celebrate. Her son, Zachaeus, was also shot, losing his left eye but survived.
Back to School Open House
Friday Night Kids Club PNO (7-13yrs)
2 1/2 Hours of Creative Fun! Pizza and Drink Included.
The Super 12 Volt Rally
Join us for the 1st Annual Super 12 Volt Rally! Bring your own 12 Volt or use one of the fleet we’ll provide. Benefits will support Big Brothers Big Sisters of WNC.
Completely free for all families, spectators, and participants.
Food, vendors, rally, races and prizes.
Haw Creek Heritage Festival
Join us for the Haw Creek Heritage Festival celebrating the fall season and the rich cultural tapestry of the Haw Creek community. Immerse yourself in live music that echoes traditions of the past, while little ones bounce with joy in the lively bouncy houses. Engage in some friendly competition with cornhole games, and experience the historic storytelling that will be held in Heritage Hall.
You’ll also have the opportunity to choose from the Queen’s Island Cuisine, Mean Mandy’s or Master BBQ food trucks.
This event will be a fusion of history, entertainment and flavors for all ages!
Bike Safety Rodeo
The first 100 youth ages 5-15 years will receive a free bicycle helmet. This FREE event is open to ALL ages.
Fall Festival
Who’s ready for a fun fall family day?! We would LOVE to see you at our Fall Festival on Sunday, September 17! 
Activities include…
• Free hotdog lunch
• Inflatables
• Snowcones
• Facepainting
• Games
• And more!