The Mountain Heritage Festival is set to return this Labor Day weekend, on Saturday, Sept. 5, and Sunday, Sept. 6, at the 1906 Grapelle Butt Mock House and Mountain Life Museum just off the square in Downtown Blairsville.
And this year marks a return to the “roots” of the festival hosted annually by the Union County Historical Society, with greater emphasis on local culture and tradition brought into the crafts and activities that families enjoy every year.
Continue reading with a subscription.
North Georgia News — serving Union County since 1909.
Cancel anytime.
Always a popular festival feature, about 30 vendors will be situated on the front lawn, with many focusing on either handmade crafts or local-made food.
“Everything is made by hand here in Union, Towns and Fannin (counties),” said Historical Society President Mike Cook, adding that most food vendors will be in the Mock House parking lot, although some samples of traditional Appalachian fare will be available at the Payne Cabin.
The children’s area will be moved behind the Mock House and will feature activities that mountain folk used to do for practicality and fun, like using a washboard and basin for cleaning clothes, making corn husk dolls, panning for gold and more.
“We’re going to let the kids experience that,” said Society Secretary Jayne Jones. “(We’ll) have a table with old-fashioned kitchen utensils; how to grate a carrot with an old-fashioned grater; how to beat eggs with an old-fashioned eggbeater; rolling out dough and cutting biscuits.”
As a former educator, Jones knows the value in hands-on learning and has found success by employing similar strategies in her volunteer role at the Historical Society.
“When I give tours at the Mock House and the children come in, I try to make it as interactive as possible, because that’s how kids really learn,” Jones said. “We want to go back to our roots to truly make it heritage (related).”
Live historical demonstrations will also be located around the back of the property, including a blacksmith and whittler.
New this year will be the addition of a traditional “mountain man” in the form of Ken Jones. Along with selling bowls of cornbread and chili for $5, Jones will tell adventure stories about the great outdoors beside a campfire.
In the Mock House Annex, spinners will be teaching guests how to card and weave, and there will be a couple of women demonstrating how to quilt. Appalachia’s oldest residents will also be honored with a display of Native American artifacts.
While the Collins Cabin has not completed construction, the building now has steps thanks to volunteer Mickey Cummings, and guests are welcome to step inside and take a tour. Out front on the porch will be RJ’s Fine Cigars, and the inside will be decorated with old furniture.
As in years past, the historic Payne Cabin will also be open, where a volunteer will be cooking over an open fire and talking about what life was like living in a one-room house.
Admission is free, but guests are encouraged to make use of the donation boxes spread around the grounds to not only help keep the Heritage Festival going strong but to support the endeavors of the Historical Society in preserving the county’s past for the betterment of its future.
On that note, Cook wants to thank the event’s sponsors: RJ’s Fine Cigars, Nelson’s Tractor, the Blairsville-Union County Chamber of Commerce, the Blairsville Downtown Development Authority, United Community Bank, Vintage Volt Antiques, and the Candler Station.
The Mountain Heritage Festival will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Parking is available downtown, and transportation to the Mock House will be provided.
