Blue Ridge Folklife Festival 2019 - 46 Years of Real Roots!

2019-09-05 14:59:31

Blue Ridge Folklife Festival 2019 is musicians, moonshiners, motorheads, mule jumpers, and more. The festival is the largest event of its kind in Virginia and unlike any other craft festival you’ve ever seen. Saturday, October 26, 2019 in Ferrum, VA.

Blue Ridge Folklife Festival, held on the fourth Saturday of every October, has been a Virginia tradition for 46 years, now. Ferrum College campus and Ferrum’s Blue Ridge Farm, the official State Center for Blue Ridge Folklore, host the event.

Unlike most other craft shows, Blue Ridge Folklife Festival is the real deal. Festival artisans share folk traditions that go back for generations in their family or community. You’ll see performers, artisans, food, activities, and attractions not typically seen at such events. Even the New York Times had to admit that the festival is “thoroughly authentic.”

Festival Artisans

The festival craft market is unmatched in its selection of quality, rural folk crafts. More than 50 artisans will be on hand, many of whom are exclusive to the festival. Blue Ridge Folklife is known for its collection of unique artisans. Many of the handcrafts they sell and display are rare and unusual, sold only here.

The festival is more than just a marketplace, however. Attendees will also enjoy demonstrations of various old-time skills, like tobacco twisting, basket making, blacksmithing, and dough tray carving.

Roots Music at the Festival

Another major component of the festival is the music. Blue Ridge Folklife Festival is known as a major stop on Virginia’s Heritage Music Trail, The Crooked Road.

3 music stages and more than 20 different artists/groups will provide 21 hours of music at the festival. You’ll hear everything from gospel to blues to old-style bluegrass from musicians who have been playing the region’s music all of their lives.

And So Much More!

The crafts and music are just two of the many pieces that make up the multi-faceted Blue Ridge Folklife Festival.

Other major attractions include the Car Show and Steam & Gas Show. Peruse the muscle cars, restored tractors, and vintage power equipment. Demonstrations will include rock crushing, wheat threshing, hay bailing, grain milling, and more.

happy horse at Blue Ridge Folklife Festival 2019 Love animals? The festival has plenty! There will be mule jumping, horse pulling, ox driving, coon dog treeing, and a variety of other working-animal demonstrations.

Canning traditions and moonshine still demos, farm market, children’s activities, and too much more to list here!

You won’t go hungry, either. The festival includes a cornucopia of real, old-time, homemade, Blue Ridge country foods prepared on site. Fried fish, barbecue chicken, cornmeal, pork rinds, apple pie, hard tack candy, and more. Just don’t expect hamburgers and hot dogs!