As most of you already know, the John C. Campbell Folk School plays a huge role in our lives. I consider myself very fortunate to live just down the road from the John C. Campbell Folk School.
The first time I remember being at the folk school, I was about 6 years old. My class at school had planned a field trip to the folk school. My Mamaw, Marie Wilson, worked in the craft shop. Instead of taking the bus with the other kids I rode to work with her that morning.
Even though the days, weeks, and years have passed quickly by since that day, I still vividly recall the trip as the beginning of my fascination with the folk school. First there were the carvings-dozens of little animal figures any child would have been spell bound by them. There was the sliding door refrigerator with more fruit in it than I’d ever seen before, and as I wandered around and lost my way there was the nice housekeeper who let me follow her back to Mamaw-never scolding me for prowling around and getting lost.
Through the years the folk school continued to weave its way through my life. Pap has performed at many a fall festival and Friday night concert. The folk school even aided in one of the greatest achievements of his musical career when they assisted the North Carolina Arts Council in awarding Pap and his brother the North Carolina Folk Heritage Award for their music as The Wilson Brothers. You can even read about Pap in the JCCFS’s History Center.
The folk school continues to be a part of my life today. Chatter and Chitter clogged on the John C. Campbell Folk School Clogging Team for many years; I teach an Appalachian cooking class for them; we all enjoy attending contra dances; and the whole Blind Pig Gang performs often at the folk school and is always on one of the stages during fall festival.
When Olive Dame Campbell opened her beloved folk school it was primarily to help our little community of Brasstown and the surrounding area. Her vision was to teach local folks how to use the techniques and talents they already had to better their lives.
To be sure, people from all over the world benefit from the John C. Campbell Folk School. However, every year when we take our places on the festival barn stage, I know Mrs. Campbell would be proud. Not because of our musical awesomeness, but because 4 generations of the Wilson family who live just down the road, have intertwined their lives with her dream.
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Details:
JCCFS Fall Festival – October 1 & 2 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the John C. Campbell Folk School. Daily admission: $5 for adults, $3 for ages 12-17, and free for children under 12.
Chatter and Chitter will be clogging with the Kudzu Kickers on the Festival Barn Stage at 1:20 p.m on Saturday Oct 1st.
The Pressley Girls will perform on the Festival Barn Stage at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday Oct 2nd. If you make it to the festival PLEASE come up and say hello!
Live close enough to attend the festival? The Folk School generously donated tickets for me to giveaway-so if you want the tickets-leave a comment and tell me. The tickets are good for one day of the festival, whichever day you decide to attend.
To be entered in the giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post telling me you want to win the tickets. The giveaway will close on Wednesday September 21 at 3:00 p.m.
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Be on the lookout for a guest post about Olive Dame Campbell written by Rooney Floyd.
Tipper
I would like to receive tickets to the JCC Fall Festival for Saturday and Sunday. I enjoy reading your blog and look forward to it daily.d
Been down to Savannah to teach a woodcarving class this weekend for Benjamin Curran at Savannah Tech. He is Anna Shearouse’s husband–so I’m checking in a little late but I really appreciate the shout-out you gave the Folk School. It is truly awesome that your family has been right there since the beginning. They all certainly reflect exactly what ODC hoped her school would do for Brasstown…and the world. Best,
Rooney
Tipper
I want to thank you for the cd of pap. I have enjoyed it a lot. I would love to come to the festival . I may go visit my cousin in Andrews just so I can come to the festival.
Marshall
I sure wish that I could use the tickets, but WI is just too far away this year. I did my solo bucket list journey last year. My list of want to do’s included the Smokey Mts. in their autum glory, going to the John Campbell Fall Festival, hearing the Wilson Family play, meeting Tipper and her girls, taking a class at the school in Nature Photography, visiting the Foxfire location and museum, zip lining the Nantahala gorge, taking the train ride through the mountains, visiting Cherokee and the Cherokee museum, visiting Ashville and the Biltmore, going up to Clingman’s Dome and Mt. Mitchell, following the Quilt trail, and visiting the historic mill that was the setting for one of Tippers recommended books by a North Carolina author. I did everything BUT the John Campbell Fall Festival……..it was rained out. First time in it’s history. Hope they have glorious weather this year. So I wish I could win those tickets and be there this year, but it is not to be. Maybe, I will do a return solo visit, but at 74 the odds are not in my favor. I will be thinking of you all on that weekend and will again enjoy my beautiful NC nature photos. Happy Fall to all.
I am going too see the Dirt Band in Hiwassee on Sat Oct 1, and plan on staying in the area a few days. Have been wanting to see the girls perform and would love to have 2 tickets for Sunday Oct 2. Also the JCCFS has been on my places to visit list for quite a while.
I live in Ellijay and would love the opportunity to attend JCFS fall festival. Attending one or more classes is on my bucket list. Thank you for this generous offer!
I think I’ll miss the clogging but hopefully I can stick around for the singing! I bet everything’ll be double great this year! -Sara B
Our first time there was two years ago and we loved it. We were all excited about going last year but Mother Nature didn’t allow. The best part of our first visit was running into you and Ms Cindy.
Out all all the people there I looked up and there you were. We are looking forward to coming up again this year so I’ll be keeping an eye out for you all.
I’d like to win tickets. Is it really that easy?
Tipper,
Well now, that’s a “gettin’ up early, go to festival day” if I ever heard one!
What a great day in the mornin’ that will be.
Just imagine gettin’ to hear and see The Pressley Girls do all they do, sing, dance and play on one stage and also maybe a we’ll see a little jewelry craft booth as well!
More than worth the trip!
It was also kind for the JCCFS to include other “going’s on” with the admission of the ticket! HA
I believe I was supposed to say; we want to win the tickets!
Thanks Tipper,
My one and only visit to the Folk School was at the behest of my aunt Violet Luman who was working there at the time. That would have been back in the 1956-1958 range, quite a bit before your time. I don’t remember much about the School itself but I can still hear Aunt Violet’s big booming voice as she guided us through and pointed out all wonders that dwelt there. Aunt Violet had “married well” and didn’t have to work so I don’t know her reasons for working at the Folk School. I’m not sure she was even being paid. I am sure she didn’t need the money.
I would love to come see the Folk School again, and especially The Blind Pig Gang & The Pressley Girls, but unfortunately that can’t happen. I would gladly pay for the opportunity if it were a possibility. So, don’t include me in the drawing.
Maybe you can make some videos and take some pictures and post them here and on Youtube. Maybe I will see a little glint of silver in one of them and can let that represent my presence.
Tipper,
I’ve known about the Folk School since I was in Elementary, but I never been there until about 2008. I have commented before about the blessings of all them Wilsons near the School. They play all of the Wilson groups on our Christian Radio Station and they are a blessing to hear. Pap never bragged to me about how famous Ray and he was getting their Special Thing in North Carolina.
I enjoyed the write-up today on the Folk School. …Ken
I wanted to attend last year with a friend, but the severe storms caused the school to cancel. I have gone to the school to see and enjoy a few of the Thursday and Friday night concerts, but I have never been to the festival . It sounds like fun!
The festival sounds great and I know it’ll be a lot of fun for those who attend. I do thank you for the ticket offer though. 🙂 I first came to your blog yesterday and I really enjoyed the music you have here…reminds me of my childhood in south central Virginia when, during the day, our big old radio was tuned into Blue Grass from the counties and states to the west of us.
Would love to go to the Folk School Festival this year!!!!
You and your entire family are so fortunate to be so near such an awesome school. You failed to mention how fortunate the school is to have your wonderfully talented family so close by. I feel it must have been by divine intervention that our Appalachian heritage is celebrated in your little corner of the world. Then you share with everybody via blog.
We have a great showplace for Appalachian crafts on the WV turnpike called Tamarack. It is totally packed and jammed with any type of hand made craft There are so many gifted folks in all parts of Appalachia. It would be a great place to stop should any Blind Pig reader ever make a trip up I-77.
I would be unable to attend, but will hopefully enjoy some of the goings on one morning when I read your blog.
Yes, I’d love to have some tickets to the Folk Fest! It’s fabulous. Sorry I didn’t get to speak to y’all in Blairsville the other weekend. I was on the other side of the Mock house doing my storytelling, and by the time I got a break and came around, y’all’s ‘set’ was over. But you sounded great!
Tipper,
After years of coming to the Folkschool, we decided last year to attend the Fall Festival. Circumstances, up to that time, had never allowed up to be in the area on that eventful 1st weekend of October. We all know what happened to the event last year, but we had an additional twist. While driving up the Friday afternoon before the festival, the turbo on our vehicle blew out around Jasper, GA. While waiting for the tow truck in the rain, we got a call from the Folkschool office, telling us informing us of the cancellation. As disappointing as it was to us, it was a real hardship for all the vendors, particularly those with perishable food.
This year, we too are fortunate enough to be living, a hopefully increasing amount of our time just up the road from the Folkschool. God willing, there will be many Fall Festivals in all of our futures.
May this year’s event be the most successful, yet!
The Folk School Festival is on my to-do list. I’m also attending the sorghum pressing at the Barnette Farm tomorrow.
I’ve been seeing the posters up in town for the festival and as I drive to town I pass the folk school I see that they are spiffing up the grounds in preparation. It’s been two years since we had a festival, last year had to be cancelled because of storms. So we’re all looking forward to it!