Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country | Founded 05-05-05

|| High Country Press Newswire

Sept 18, 2008 issue

Mountain Heritage Festival Set for September 27 in Downtown Sparta

Story by David Brewer

Vendors and activities will line Sparta’s Main Street from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 27, for the town’s annual Mountain Heritage Festival. The Alleghany Christmas Tree Association Choose and Cut Farms will present the annual Mountain Heritage Festival in downtown Sparta on Saturday, September 27. The free event will last from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Mountain Heritage Festival will feature live music, crafts, food, demonstrations, children’s activities, antique cars and farm equipment and the crowning the the Possum Queen.

For those looking to get their Christmas shopping out of the way early or those looking simply to fill their stomachs, this year’s Mountain Heritage Festival will feature dozens of fine arts, crafts and delicious food vendors lining Main Street, as well as two food courts offering more festival delights.

The Festival will also call attention to special activities in the coming year. “In 2009, Alleghany County will mark the 150th anniversary of its founding and the Mountain Heritage Festival will be highlighting the county’s upcoming Sesquicential Celebration,” said Allegheny Chamber of Commerce Director Bob Bamberg. “Historic memorabilia and information on the 2009 celebration will be available. We expect over 100 food and craft vendors such that festivalgoers will have a varied selection.”

Children and adults of all ages will enjoy expert demonstrations of all kinds including chain saw, rug braiding, cider pressing, Christmas tree decorating and old-fashioned corn meal grinding among others. For youngsters that want to do more than just watch, pony rides and inflatables and a climbing wall will be offered.

United Methodist Church will be making apple cider and apple butter and selling several food items. They will have a dunking booth with prominent members of the community taking their turns on the “wet” seat. First Baptist Church will have a bounce house and will host the local Boy Scout Regatta that features local scouts racing their model boats.

For folks who love the classic machines of yesteryear, Mountaintop Cruisers will be on hand displaying restored and unusual cars. A collection of antique tractors will also be at the festival.

It certainly wouldn’t be a mountain festival without live music and Sparta’s Mountain Heritage Festival will feature live bluegrass and traditional mountain music throughout the day. Performers include Mountain Park Old Time Band, Uncle Nave & The Cranberry Creek Boys, Rise and Shine Band, the Junior Appalachian Musicians (JAM) and comedian Hillbilly Wes, a stand-up comic whose humor follows in the tradition of Jerry Clower.

Blue Ridge Country 98.1’s J.D. Higgins will be in attendance, broadcasting live from the festival in the WBRF 98.1 Cruiser Van. Higgins will also be registering festivalgoers for a chance to win a vacation to Myrtle Beach. Higgins formed the band, Country Express, and has produced numerous music shows in northwest North Carolina and southwest Virginia, but is best known locally for producing the Homing Show for fellow Alleghany County native and Grand Ole Opry star, Del Reeves, who died in 2007.

For more info on the Mountain Heritage Festival, click to www.sparta-nc.com/heritage/.