Fall festivals worth the road trip

Summer is officially in the rearview mirror. The cooler temperatures bring more than a craving for pumpkin spice. Autumn means continuing the tradition of fall festivals.

BASCOM LAMAR LUNSFORD FESTIVAL

The Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival celebrates 59 years on the campus of Mars Hill University, on Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. String Bands, ballad singing circle and the Carroll Best Celebration. And the good news is that admission is free.

For more than five decades, Rodney Sutton has learned from traditional musicians and dancers, performed alongside them, taught others what he learned and has helped to carry Appalachian dance traditions to new generations. This fall, the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Mountain Music Festival at Mars Hill University will recognize those contributions by presenting Sutton with the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Award. The award will be presented at 11 a.m.

And join Rodney and the Green Grass Cloggers for a film debut, “Green Grass Cloggers, the History Part One: The 1970’s.” The screening will be hosted by the Madison County Arts Council, on Monday, Oct. 5, at 6:30 p.m.

FOLK SCHOOL FALL FESTIVAL

The annual fall festival, established at the John C. Campbell Folk School in 1974, is held each year on the first full weekend in October — this year on Oct. 3-4. The school is at One Folk School Road in Brasstown.

The event features four outdoor vendor areas — both juried and non-juried — for visitors to experience the stunning 270-acre campus. This year, look forward to more than 230 craft vendors and 25-plus food vendors, and over 50 makers demonstrating traditional and contemporary crafts across multiple locations.

Each year, visitors attend from across the southern Appalachian region — including Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia — to celebrate the spirit of community and creativity. The event will feature two music and dance stages showcasing dozens of local and regional performers. In addition, the Demonstration Stage, along with three other demonstration areas, will highlight traditional skills and craft practices.

Gate admission is $15 for adults and $12 for seniors. Children younger than 12 are admitted free.

BRUSHY MOUNTAIN APPLE FESTIVAL

The annual Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is one of the largest one-day arts and crafts festivals in the Southeast. This year’s event is 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 3.

The Brushy Mountain Ruritan Club owns, operates, and organizes the event each year. The Brushy Mountain Apple Festival is not just this club’s largest fundraiser but has become one of Wilkes County’s biggest fundraisers. Over 100 civic, church and other nonprofit organizations participate in the festival. Over 100,000 people visit this festival during the day and it’s free.

The streets of downtown North Wilkesboro are filled with over 300 arts and crafts, 50 food concessions, three different music stages consisting of bluegrass, country, folk, gospel, and Appalachian heritage. Cloggers, folk dancers, rope skippers, and square dancers provide additional entertainment venues for festivalgoers. Appalachian Heritage crafts are highlighted such as woodcarving, chair making, soap making, pottery throwing, and quilting.

When walking through the streets of the festival observing and buying lots of the arts and crafts, Appalachian dulcimers can be heard while the smells of the variety of foods are enticing everyone’s appetites. Let us not forget the apples, apples, and apples. Local apple growers set up throughout the festival selling their apples, apple cider, and dried apples. After all, this festival also pays tribute to the fruit grown and harvested each fall by apple orchardists from northwestern North Carolina.

SPRUCE PINE BBQ FESTIVAL

As the name of the festival makes clear, the Spruce Pine BBQ Festival features delicious barbecue — but that’s not all. Attendees will also get a heaping helping of great music from bluegrass, country, classic rock, and traditional genres. Rounding out the offerings are more food and craft vendors, events, and games galore.

The festival is Saturday, Oct. 3, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Everything will be set up on Locust Avenue (Lower Street) in Spruce Pine. The day will be capped off a street dance featuring the bluegrass band Bandana Rhythm from 6-9 p.m.

— AKC