A half-century of heritage

Valdese's Waldensian Festival marks golden milestone

Aug 2, 2025
Aug 2, 2025
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FESTIVAL INFO

CRUISE IN

Main Street will close at approximately 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9 as dozens of antique cars line the downtown area.

SYNCRO-TONIC SWAG

Get ready to groove to the irresistible sounds of Syncro-Tonic Swag, a four-piece powerhouse that blends R&B, soul, funk, and rock n’ roll into a sonic tapestry.

THE EMBERS

Beach music sensations, The Embers will put joy in your step, love in your heart, and beach music in your soul. The Embers have laid the groundwork for what has become known as “Beach Music” in the Carolinas, Virginians, the Gulf Coast region, and every beach in between. They are a true musical tradition with which many Americans have listened to since childhood. The Embers consider the genre of Beach Music as “music with a memory,” and have been creating lasting memories since its inception in 1958.

WINES/BEVERAGES

Waldensian Style Wines will be pouring all night. Come by and enjoy everyone’s favorite cool treat- Brenda’s Frozen Peach Bellini.

Those who choose to enjoy the wine garden are reminded to consume their beverages only within the designated area. Please remember that outside coolers/outside alcoholic beverages are not permitted at this event. Great eats will be available on every corner!

FOOTRACES

Each year during the festival, the Great Waldensian Footrace is held. This event begins on Saturday at 8 a.m. with 5K and 10k runs, beginning at the Valdese Community Recreation Center. As in past years, runners will head down Laurel Street, then onto Lovelady before making their way back.

The 5k runners will double back before they hit Lovelady, avoiding the long uphill stretch. Children can also join in this fun event by participating in the one-mile Fun Run immediately after the 5k and 10k races. The Valdese Community Center Pool and splash pad will be available to all participants and guests.

2025 LPDA BOCCE TOURNAMENT

The Waldensian Festival would not be complete without bocce. The Western North Carolina Regional Tournament sponsored and hosted by the Le Phare des Alpes (LPDA) located on Laurel Street South, will begin promptly at 8 a.m. on Aug. 9th. The top three winning teams will qualify for the state tournament. This year’s local and state competitions do not have an age limit, as they have in previous years.

Bocce, a game similar to lawn bowling, was a favorite pastime of the early settlers in Valdese and continues to prove entertaining for young and old. The LPDA will also be serving hot Waldensian Bread cooked right on site in the wood burning oven, as well as a favorite food of the Waldensians, soutissa, a pork based sausage.

INFORMATION BOOTH AND VENDORS

Festival attendees are invited to visit the Valdese Information and Merchandise Booth, located at the corner of Rodoret and Main Street. Information on all event activities will be available. Valdese t-shirts,

Valdese license plates, decals, and flags will be available for purchase.

More than 160 food and craft vendors will fill Main Street from Carolina Street to the Old Rock School on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

KIDZ ZONE

Enjoy the free inflatables on the Old Rock School front lawn.

HERITAGE MUSEUM AND GIFT SHOP

The Waldensian Heritage Museum and Gift Shop will open its doors at 10 a.m. Tour the museum and experience Waldensian Heritage by viewing the many original artifacts and heirlooms on display there, including pictures, clothing, housewares, and tools that belonged to the settlers of Valdese.

The museum also manages an impressive collection of historic books and manuscripts, including Bibles written in Italian, French, Patois dialect, and Hebrew. Pews, the pulpit, the communion table, plates, and goblets that were used in the first communion at the original Waldensian Church are also displayed. During Festival Saturday, the museum will offer free soutissa tastings. Visit their booth next to the information tent for details.

ARRIVAL ART INSTALLATION

The Arrival Art Installation was finished in 2018 to honor Valdese, as the town celebrated 125 years since its founding in 1893. The Valdese Public Arts Commission and the Town of Valdese came together to create a commemorative art piece that is located across from Valdese Town Hall on Massel Avenue.

The installation depicts the arrival of the original Waldensian settlers who came to Valdese on May 29, 1893 as they departed the “No. 11” train at the Valdese Depot. The installation was created by the artists of Oak Hill Iron & Wood of Morganton and was designed by local artist Greg Mastin.

The project, which is made of iron, features a full scale train and silhouettes of original settlers. Standing between twelve and fifteen feet tall and extending parallel to Massel Avenue for over thirty feet, the installation also features a boardwalk and gazebo.

TRAIL OF FAITH

The Trail of Faith is located on Church Street and is a wonderful way to experience the history of the Waldensians and the founding of Valdese. The Trail is a 10 acre, 15 exhibit memorial, recreating the Waldenses’ perseverance, with replicas of their homes, churches, monuments, a seminary, and more.

Self-guided tours are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $6 for students. Visit waldensiantrailoffaith.org for tour hours and more information.

RAILROAD MUSEUM

The Piedmont and Western Railroad (PWRR) Museum is one of the largest indoor railroad displays in the state. Founded in July 1988, the Piedmont and Western Model Railroad Club combined the talents and passions of local railroad enthusiasts to create a fictitious rail line serving Western North Carolina.

The HO (1:87) scale railroad runs from Marion, NC to Leadvale, TN, carrying loads across the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. The total trackage covers more than 1,000 feet. The PWRR museum is located on the lower level of the Old Rock School. The museum will host an open house on Festival Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

OPEN ART COMPETITION/ARTIST DEMONSTRATION

The Rock School Arts Foundation’s 38th Annual Open Art Competition/Artist Demonstration will take place in the art galleries located on the second floor of the Old Rock School. The galleries open at 9 a.m. Visitors will enjoy a variety of artists, mediums, and subject matter, displayed in the gallery’s most diverse exhibit of the year. Remember to cast your vote for your favorite for the 2025 People’s Choice Award.

The exhibit will be in the galleries from Aug. 1-29. Galleries are open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibition can be viewed online at rockschoolartgalleries.com from Aug. 1 through Sept. 26. The Rock School Arts Foundation will also welcome a variety of artists as they host a special art demonstration in the Waldensian Room of the Old Rock School. Enjoy the exhibits and demonstrations from a wide range of talented artists.

OUTDOOR DRAMA

Now in its 57th consecutive season, the outdoor drama “From This Day Forward” will be presented by the Old Colony Players with special performances Friday and Saturday nights of Festival weekend. Shows will begin at 8 p.m. each evening at the Fred B. Cranford Amphitheater in Valdese.

Holding the title of the longest running outdoor drama in North Carolina, “From This Day Forward” brings the incredible journey of the Waldenses to life, covering the persecution the people faced in the valleys of the Cottian Alps to the founding of the town of Valdese. Tickets can be purchased by visiting oldcolonyplayers.com or by calling 828-522-1150. Rated PG-13 for scenes of battle and peril.

CHAINSAW ARTIST

Farris Insurance will welcome chainsaw artist Mountain Mike, an international speed and masterpiece carver. and Masterpiece carver. His chainsaw carvings range from a foot to 14-feet tall.

CLOWNING AROUND

Mark Donnell is a clown, theatrical mask maker, storyteller, physical comedian, teacher, and entertainer. He specializes in “gentle clowning” which encourages audience participation while allowing viewers to feel safe and comfortable with the clown.

His comedic skills have entertained audiences across the world through a combination of physical clowning and humor, utilizing his more than 45 years of teaching and performing experience.