Record turnout at Fall Festival

Over 13,000 people attended Fall Festival at the John C. Campbell Folk School to celebrate the Autumn season.  The popular event brought in visitors from counties close to home and as far as Michigan, Florida, New Hampshire, and even England to celebrate arts, crafts, and music from the southern Appalachian mountains.  With over 200 craft vendors, 20 food vendors, 40 demonstrators, and entertainment scheduled all day there was something for everyone. 

Craft demonstrators set up around the campus to offer a chance to be viewed in action with the opportunity to ask questions.  The wide variety of art mediums on display provided an educational atmosphere for anyone interested in how craft items are made.  In the Pittman Fiber Arts building visitors walked among weavers, spinners, and knitters and witnessed the many ways to process natural fibers.  “The wool from the sheep is picked, carded, and spun in to yarn,” commented a spinning demonstrator who was also wearing a hand-knitted sweater.

Down the walkway known as Studio Row, the woodcarving demonstrators laughed at their memories as beginning carvers.  In front of the ladies stood a miniature Christmas tree adorned with intricatly carved Santa Clauses.  The Folk School’s resident woodcarver Helen Gibson said, “The first thing I ever made was a napkin ring.  Then I made hundreds of them, roosters and hens.”  Gibson, who started carving when she was eleven years old, was accompanied by her cousin Ruth Morrison who no longer lives in the area but came to demonstrate for the festival.

Carolyn Anderson, also showing off her woodcarving skills, remembered the original carvers assocaited with the Folk School.  “I’d go to their house and they’d get out a shoe box with their carvings.

That’s how they’d unwind after a days work.”  The miniature rabbits, deer, squirrel and other animals made by the first carvers were on display in the history center which was open during the festival.

The festival was a community event in every respect.  Visitors pushed strollers and held the hands of young children who ate red candied apples and funnel cakes.  Doris Carringer, a vendor who sold southern-style sourdough bread and other baked goods had made aprons for her five grandchildren who helped her during the weekend.  “I’ve had a booth probably fifteen years,”  Carringer remembered and was overjoyed that now the event could be shared by three generations.

Many vendors and performers expressed their joy to contribute in their home community.  “I enjoy having a booth because it is an opportunity to be able to exhibit with some of the finest artists in the area.  It is wonderful to be included in the fun weekend and to be associated with the Folk School,”  said Mike Lalone.  “I have been the resident clay artist at the Folk School for 4 years and have really enjoyed working here.”

In addition to the crafters were groups such as the Humane Society that brought animals in need of a good home.  Vendors Jeff and Laura Hutt of Mountain Mirrors and More were only planning on selling their artwork but by the end of the weekend had purchased a puppy to take home.  “We talked about it and decided we couldn’t leave without Max,”  said Hutt as she held the new puppy in her arms.

Little Brasstown Baptist Church Youth Group made 200 gallons of home-made ice cream and 900 fried apple pies.  Congregation members Savannah and Stacey Clayton, Breeze Bettis, Jill Rockwell, and Dianna Brown put in many hours in the kitchen before the festival and at the end of the weekend all but 40 apple pies were sold.  The festival is main fundraiser for the church who plans to donate the proceeds to their Kenya Mission Project.

Folk School was pleased with the record high turn out and the beautiful weather.