John Campbell Folk School Fall Festival in Brasstown NC Offers Fun for the Entire Family

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It’s true! The 2015 Fall Festival is cancelled for the first time that we know of! It’s quite disappointing that we will not be able to enjoy all the festivities; however, we know it is well worth the wait for next year. Go ahead and put it on your 2016 calendar and be prepared to see us in the mountains. So here’s this year’s article we wrote about the festival:

If you’re always ready for a good mountain craft festival, and you want to enjoy our drop-dead-gorgeous fall colors, come check out the famous John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival. This almost-legendary event takes place near Murphy NC, in a charming little place called Brasstown NC during the first weekend in October. This year’s Fall Festival will be held on October 3 and 4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In fact, this is quite a special gathering, as the Folk School celebrates its 90th Anniversary in 2015.

When you arrive on the Folk School campus, park your vehicle and put on your walking shoes. Start meandering along the tree-lined paths as you visit over 240 craft vendors who are happy to share their work. You’ll see fine-quality basketry, glass, ironwork, jewelry, painting, custom knives, pottery, weaving, woodturning, and woodworking…plus some interesting crafts you’ve never seen before. If you’re a hands-on person, come watch over 40 traditional and contemporary craft demonstrations that provide a taste of our region’s Appalachian culture.

If your toes begin tapping when you hear some lively music, the Fall Festival offers plenty of live performances on two stages. The roomy Festival Barn stage, and the wooded Shady Grove

near the Craft Shop, will host quite a lineup of regional musicians and dancers. Come hear country, old time, bluegrass, gospel, Celtic, French, and blues songs throughout the weekend. The Appalachian cloggers and Morris dancers will wake up your sense of rhythm, and you might even start swaying to the music while you watch.

Kids will also discover plenty of fun Fall Festival activities. Pony rides and face painting are always a hit, and the Cherokee County Arts Council will tempt younger festivalgoers with some exciting crafts projects. Inside the group’s tent, budding artists can dabble in paper arts, fabric collages, painting, felting, and whimmy-diddling, just to name a few.

Naturally, you’ll work up an appetite while you browse craft vendors and dance to the live music. Good thing the Fall Festival has lots of lunch, snack, and dessert foods for every taste. Even better, all proceeds support local non-profit and community groups. That’s a “win win” for everybody!

What are you waiting for? Get on down to the John C. Campbell Folk School Fall Festival, just a stone’s throw from Murphy, NC and Cherokee County. We just might see you there!

 

Read our post on the 2013 Fall Festival at John C. Campbell Folk School

Read our post on the 2012 Fall Festival at John C. Campbell Folk School

The Poltrock Team – REMAX Mountain Properties – Murphy NC – www.MyMurphy.com – Call us Toll Free at 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496 – Murphy’s #1 Real Estate Team

Murphy Art Walks Bring Arts, Music, and Tasty Food to Downtown Murphy NC

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If you’re always looking for things to do in downtown Murphy, NC, put the Murphy Art Walk at the top of your list. In fact, put these free “fun for the whole family” evenings on your calendar right now. From May through October, folks from Cherokee County – and visitors from everywhere – gather in Murphy on the first Friday of the month from 5 to 8 p.m. During the season, some of the Art Walks have special themes, such as a spring Student Art Show and a July Patriotic Celebration. You might even find a Scavenger Hunt, where visitors scour local shops for clues that help them win a prize. In October, Fall decorations set the tone for the evening.

The Art Walk is sponsored by the Valley River Arts Guild, so art is definitely the focus. For starters, Murphy’s downtown galleries will give visitors a warm welcome. The Valley River Arts Gallery, Gallery 26, Celebrate Life Gallery, and Highlander Gallery may even showcase a special collection or two. Some of the participating artists will also be on hand.

Naturally, local merchants also want to be part of the action. When you stroll into a business displaying a yellow Art Walk flag, you might see an artist demonstrating his or her craft for everyone to see. Jewelry artisans, painters, calligraphers, weavers – you never know who you’ll meet at an Art Walk. Chances are, they’ll even have some artwork for sale. If you see something you like, consider treating yourself to a gift. Or, pick up a special birthday or Christmas present.

While you stroll the downtown streets of Murphy NC, keep an eye (and ear) out for the live performances. First, check out the four downtown squares, as they’re popular spots for musicians and bands. You might also find entertainment inside a merchant’s shop or restaurant. Check out Shoebootie’s, The Daily Grind, The Chophouse, and PNC Bank for starters.

If your family includes some members of the younger set, Art Walks often feature fun children’s activities. Look for face painting, balloon artists, and magicians. Kids might even get up-close-and-personal with an artist while she’s creating a colorful piece of work.

Of course, every special event needs some delicious food – and Murphy, NC Art Walk merchants certainly pull out all the stops. As you browse the downtown streets, poke your head into each yellow-flagged shop or restaurant and snag a tasty snack or two. While each establishment will offer something different, you won’t be disappointed! According to the inside scoop, Shoebootie’s and The Cherokee County Visitors’ Center always offer a scrumptious spread!

Finally, let’s remember the idea behind the Art Walk. We all want to support our local merchants, so they can continue to provide great hometown shopping and dining. That’s what helps to make Cherokee County a wonderful place to live.

The Poltrock Team – REMAX Mountain Properties – Murphy NC – www.MyMurphy.com – Call us Toll Free at 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496 – Murphy’s #1 Real Estate Team