Mountain Memories No. 1: A Hazelwood Gathering

Schedule

6p.m.-7p.m.:
Heavy appetizers
Silent Auction
Samples from Maggie Valley's Mountain Distillery
History of Hazelwood Presentation

7:15p.m.-9:15p.m.
Performance

Folkmoot is proud to partner with the Mountain Memories organization and historian and author Bob Plott to launch the Mountain Memories performance series at historic Queen Auditorium on the Folkmoot campus.

The series opens with “Mountain Memories No. 1: A Hazelwood Gathering” on Saturday, November 16. “Mountain Memories No. 2: A Mountain Christmas” follows December 13.

In the spirit of radio variety shows of years past, each Mountain Memories performance follows a loose theme, but together they promote traditional Southern Appalachian culture in an accurate and positive way through music, dance and storytelling.

Mountain Memories No. 1: A Hazelwood Gathering, features a focus on the history of the town and historic Hazelwood School, along with a “passing the torch” theme of sharing traditional culture from generation to generation.

The evening begins with a guest presentation by local historian Alex McKay. Heavy hors d'oeuvres are included in the ticket price in the center’s dining hall, during which McKay will speak about the history of the town.

The event then shifts to Queen Auditorium, just down the hall, where Waynesville’s Bob Plott will serve as Master of Ceremonies. The Plott family has deep roots in Haywood County, and Bob is an award-winning historian, author and educator, as well as a breeder of Plott Hounds.

He’ll guide guests through a program that includes a talented lineup of mountain artists:

North Carolina Folk Heritage Award recipient Bobby McMillon has performed broadly as a singer and storyteller. He’s appeared at the Smithsonian’s Festival of American Folklife, the A. P. Carter Memorial Festival, national storytelling conferences, and the Festival for the Eno, where the stories and music of his family members from Cocke Co., TN and Yancey Co. found broad appeal. McMillon will present traditional ballads, stories and string tunes.

Bakersville native and Western Carolina University graduate William Ritter plays banjo, fiddle, guitar, and other “stringed things.” With interests that lie in the direction of old apple trees and mountain humor, he’ll join McMillon to present traditional ballads and string tunes.

Aaron Ratcliffe is a native of Haywood County’s Big Stomp Mountain. A champion flatfoot dancer, superb singer, guitar player and fiddler, he now teaches at Appalachian State University. Ratcliffe will perform traditional music and dances of Haywood County, sometimes accompanied by Ritter.