English Country Fun

Many of our dances at the Folk School are contra and square dances, but we also have a strong contingent of English country dance fans and musicians. Once a month we get together on a Thursday night and learn some new dances - all to wonderful live music.

Bob Dalsemer, our amazing Music and Dance Coordinator describes it: "English Country Dances are the direct ancestors of our American contras and squares. The dances and music are from the 17th and 18th centuries, along with village dances from the early 20th century and contemporary dances and tunes inspired by the older dances."

Try it out this Thursday night. It's free AND fun. Everyone is welcome (beginners, experienced dancers, singles, and couples). Dancing begins at 8 pm.

Special Resources for Local Students

We like our local students.

We try to do nice things for local students every now and again. One of those nice things is what we call "Promotional Giveaways." It's basically a free class once a year for people who are full-time, permanent residents of our "local" counties. We've got a few available right now that look really great, so see what it's all about. Click here to learn more.

You can sign up for our local eNewsletter and be alerted every time a free class becomes available.
Enjoy!

Support the Folk School at our Annual Blacksmith Auction

Early next month, on Saturday, November 1, the Folk School will hold its second major fundraising event of the year - the Blacksmith Auction. Join us as Auctioneers Tim Ryan and Bob Grove, along with emcee Jan Davidson, inspire the bidding for handmade craft items in a most entertaining way! If you've never been to a Folk School Auction, you'll be pleasantly surprised. Not only do we raise money for a great cause (our craft programs at the Folk School), but you're sure to laugh and smile the whole way through.

Auction items are donated by talented craftspeople from near and far and include ironwork, clay, baskets, jewelry, rugs, woodworking, photographs and paintings, dolls, and much more. Many are instructors, some are students, and others are friends and long-term supporters of the Folk School.

You're invited! Come join us for this important and fun event!

November 1, 2008
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. - Silent Auction
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. - Live Auction Preview
2:00 - 5:00 p.m. - Live Auction
Location: John C. Campbell Folk School, Brasstown, NC

Free Admission

Read more about the Blacksmith Auction.

Fall Festival Schedule is Online!

Plan now to come and enjoy our 35th Fall Festival! Our largest event of the year (and one of the largest events in this region) brings great entertainment, many craft vendors, and great local food. This year, we're planning on:

• Over 200 craft vendors - both juried and non-juried.
• Music and dance entertainment on two stages all day long.
• Great food from many local vendors - From Folk School BBQ to Funnel Cakes from the Murphy Public Library and everything in between!
• Kids activities: meet an alpaca, ride a pony, or see a live bird of prey in our new Conservation Awareness Area.
• See over 40 demonstrations of traditional and contemporary crafts!

Admission for this Family event is $5 for adults, $3 for kids 12-17, and kids under 12 get in free.

Read more about Fall Festival and download our 2008 Festival Program.

Fall Festival Entertainment Schedule!

The 35th Annual Folk School Fall Festival is right around the corner and we've got a great lineup of entertainment planned. With live music and dance performances on two stages, it's going to be another fantastic weekend. The sounds will include old-time, bluegrass, folk, gospel and Celtic music, and dancers will delight you with clogging, Morris, and Garland performances. Our tentative schedule is posted below.

Saturday, October 4, 2008
FESTIVAL BARN STAGE
10:00 Betty Smith
10:45 Buck and Nelson
11:30 Pickin Partners
12:15 Campbell Folk School Cloggers
1:00 Parker Brothers
1:45 Pure Profit
2:30 Frogtown Four
3:15 Morris & Garland Dancers
4:00 Liz and Tim

CRAFT SHOP STAGE
10:00 Mountain Travellers
10:45 The Songtellers
11:30 John Rice
12:00 Pretty Bird
12:45 Barney’s Goat
1:30 Roberta & Furman, The Marble Mountaineers
2:15 Butternut Creek and Friends
3:00 Barefoot Creek
3:45 The Mountaineers


Sunday, October 5, 2008
FESTIVAL BARN STAGE
10:00 Pure Profit
10:45 Lee Knght
11:30 Beulah Land Gospel Band
12:15 Blue Ridge Grass
1:00 Buzzard Mountain Boys
1:45 Campbell Folk School Cloggers
2:30 Little Brasstown Baptist Church Choir
3:15 Morris & Garland Dancers
4:00 Irons In The Fire

CRAFT SHOP STAGE
10:00 Red and Kathy Lambert
10:30 George Kraushaar & Friends
11:15 Jerry & Evelyn
12:00 Crosstown Traffic
12:45 Mountain Valley Bluegrass
1:30 Liam Robinson
2:15 Tom Morgan & Lynn Haas
3:00 Anne Lough
3:45 Suzuki Fiddlers

Scottish Heritage Week

September brings Scottish Heritage Week at the Folk School, and there's still time to sign up for a class.

During this week, most classes have a Scottish theme and much of the evening programming and meals served relate to the Scottish/Irish cultural influence on the Apppalachian Mountains region. Wearing your kilt is optional (but highly encouraged!) while taking part in a class during the week:


These classes and many more will run the week of September 7-13. If you're interested in exploring Scottish culture, join us during this fun, interesting, and tasty week at the Folk School. It's an event not to be missed!

Read more about Scottish Heritage Week.