Optional Saturday Outings

Saturday Night:  July 16 Shindig on the Green

Shindig on the Green traces its roots back to The Mountain Folk and Dance Festival in 1928 founded by Bascom Lamar Lunsford to spread the beauty and dignity of Southern Appalachian music and dance traditions, Shindig on the Green is one of Asheville’s finest traditions celebrating the musical heritage and mountain culture of Western North Carolina throughout the summer. Shindig features a mix of Big Circle Mountain Dancers, Clog Dancers, Bluegrass and Old Time String Bands, Ballad Singers, Storytellers and of course the strong sense of community and family that has kept mountain culture strong for so many years. With a main stage show as well as informal jam sessions, there’s a little something for everyone The fun starts “along about sundown” on Saturday evening at Pack Place Park.

Saturday Night, July 23 Carter Family Fold

Janette Carter, one of three children of A.P. and Sara Carter, established the Carter Family Fold to honor the memory of her parents and Maybelle Carter who played a historic role in helping give birth to the age of country music beginning in 1927.  The original Carter Family lived where the Carter Fold is today, in Poor Valley, at the foot of Clinch Mountain in southwest Virginia. Since 1974, the non-profit Carter Music Center has presented programs of old time and bluegrass music every weekend. The Saturday concerts highlight the musical style made popular by the Carter Family, considered by many as country music’s first family. In keeping with the traditional music style, no electrical instruments are allowed (everything is acoustic).