Join us labor day weekend for 12 of Asheville’s best bands!! Andrew Scotchie & The River Rats – Travers Brothership – Lyric – Ryan Perry Band – The Jordan Okrend Experience – Spanky Twang – Moser Pie – Zuzu Welsh Band – Rhoda Weaver & The Soulmates – Calvin Get Down – Iggy Radio – Ashli Rose – The Cody Brothers – ROCK ACADEMY ALL STARS – Food Trucks – Local Craft Vendors – KidZone
All Ages Welcome – Rain or Shine Event – Bring your favorite camping chair!!
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
Sept 20th & 21st, 2025
Join us for a weekend celebration of Southern Appalachian culture on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This festival has old-time music and demonstrations of the crafts of yesteryear. Chairmaking, quilting, heirloom apples, sheep shearing, cornshuck dolls, woodcarving, blacksmithing, weaving, stone carving, soap making, crocheting, knitting, spinning, rifle making, natural dyeing, basketry, AND MORE! Oh – and you don’t want to miss the World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition at 2pm!
Kyle Webster’s charming new book for children is Please Say Please!, a vibrantly illustrated tale of a young girl and a tuxedoed gentleman who reminds her to mind her manners. As the little girl’s requests become more outrageous, she finally becomes the one to teach new friends about how to say please. School Library Journal calls it “an amusing etiquette lesson, perfect for storytimes or one-on-one sharing,” and Kirkus Reviews notes that “it will delight young children.” Kyle’s illustrations have been featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Time magazine.
“Come, bring the kids, and invite others! We’ll have about 200 book bags full.”
Free School Supplies for children of the community. Join us for Sunday School at 9:45am and Worship Celebration at 11am. Backsacks containing school supplies will be given to school children of all ages.
Featuring a variety of WNC farm fresh produce, meat, dairy, flowers, jams and hand made products. Wine and Cider tastings too!
Ever wonder what would happen if Aliens landed near YOUR high school? Come see this ONE NIGHT ONLY show presented by PPHJr’s advanced theatre students to see exactly what unfolds! There will be plenty of laughs and “space Kung Fu” to go around.
This show is being student directed by Levi Bradford. At Parkway Playhouse we commit to ensuring our students have hands-on experience in their area of interest. Come out for the show and to support Levi’s first show as DIRECTOR!
Join us for this family friendly painting on Saturday afternoon! Ages 11+ welcome!
This Mother’s Day, how about a mini-excursion to Paris? Join us for The Eiffel Tower on Saturday, May 12th from 3-5pm. Paint the set with a family member, or choose your color! Friendly for painters 11 and up.
Bring your family! See custom Mustangs during the Blue Ridge Mustang Club of Asheville & Care Partners Foundation Annual Mustangs for Hospice Pony Run & Car Show! Music, food and cool Mustangs!
• 9AM – 10:30AM – Break Free Street Ministry is serving breakfast – sausage and pancakes, coffee and juice (food for donation)
• 11AM – 2PM – Lunch provide by Freedom Biker Church – BBQ lunch plate – (food for donation)
• 11:30AM – 12:30PM – Parker Oakley Band