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The following is from the Great Smokies 75th Anniversary information:
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Franklin Folk Festival
Friday, July 17, 2009
7:00 PM – Downtown Gazebo
Saturday, July 18, 2009
9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Historic Downtown
A celebration of Appalachian heritage showing the
way life used to be, opening with great mountain music featuring Patton
String Band and Rye Holler Boys (sponsored by the Arts Council) on
Friday night starting at 7 PM. Saturday includes over 60 live
demonstration and exhibits, traditional music and dance, food, farm
animals, children’s activities, Civil War re-enactment, antique car
show, plus activities with the Scottish Tartans, Gem & Mineral, & Macon
Historical Museums. The Early Farm Days Antique Tractors at the
Fairgrounds will join everyone downtown at 11 AM for a Heritage Parade.
A new event hosted by festival – Heritage ALIVE! Mountain Youth Talent
Contest produced by Catch the Spirit of Appalachia will begin at 1:30
p.m. at the downtown Gazebo (www.spiritofappalachia.org). |
More Detail |
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The Franklin Folk Festival,
sponsored by the Folk Heritage Association of Macon County (FHAMC), is
held the third weekend in July, beginning Friday evening and ending in
the late afternoon of the following Saturday. This celebration of
mountain heritage kicks off with good music and square dancing on Friday
evening. Early Saturday morning the streets of Franklin and public areas
around the Macon County Courthouse and the new Franklin Town Hall are
lined with exhibitors demonstrating the way our ancestors lived and
celebrated life. Adults and children have opportunities to participate
in and observe activities such as churning butter, playing games our
grandparents played, splitting boards, using a two-man crosscut saw, and
taking part in fun-filled jam sessions for music lovers. There is
something for everyone including those who simply like to listen and
observe and for those who enjoy lots of hands-on activities. Also at the
Festival, displays from the Little Tennessee Land Trust, The Little
Tennessee Watershed Association, the Wilderness Society as well as
logging, wild plants/herbs, ginseng, syrup making and the organic
farmers (just to name a few), help us to better understand our mountain
terrain, streams and valuable resources found in our unique area. Over
100 volunteers take part in demonstrations such as quilting, wood
carving, tatting, churning, spinning, weaving, and splitting shingles -
creating by hand a wide variety of objects needed for everyday life. The
streets are alive with all kinds of mountain music ranging all the way
from Indian flute music to Appalachian ballads and lively banjo picking,
provided by local musicians and bands. At an old-time Front Porch
setting, Macon County’s senior citizens share their memories as they are
videotaped so that future generations can hear their stories. This is a
favorite gathering place for folks who want a real glimpse into the past
through the eyes of those sharing stories which were told to them by
their parents and grandparents along with their own earliest memories of
life in Franklin and surrounding communities. Another highlight of the
festival is the Heritage Parade which takes place Saturday morning.
Working with the Early Farm Days Engine and Tractor Club, the festival
features a Power Parade from the Macon County Fairgrounds to the Main
Street of Franklin, where it becomes part of the popular Heritage
Parade. Crowds line the street to see Confederate soldiers marching in
step, a bevy ladies dressed in fashionable 1850’s attire, senior
citizens riding in antique cars and trucks, men driving a wide variety
of antique tractors, families waving from wagons, and the many other
parade participants. With the help of several dozen civic organizations,
local government entities, main street businesses, churches,
non-profits, and other enthusiastic volunteers, the Folk Heritage
Association proudly presents a unique celebration that has been
described as a living heritage photo album, allowing friends, relatives,
old timers, residents, and visitors to see and remember what life was
like in the “old days” of Macon County. |
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Categories: Arts And Crafts, Children, Educational, Family Oriented,
Food, Heritage, Music, Nature And Wildlife, Outdoor Recreation
Website:
http://www.mcncfha.org
Email: tframsey@gmail.com Theresa Ramsey, Festival Chairman
Phone: Franklin Chamber of Commerce – (800) 932-5294 or (828) 524-3161 |
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