Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center's Annual Harvest Festival

Stecoah Valley Cultural Arts Center will host its annual Harvest Festival beginning on Friday evening, October 17, with a campfire sing-along from 6 - 8 p.m. Come enjoy and old-fashioned evening of singing, storytelling and roasting hot dogs and marshmallows over the campfire. Friday's admission is free.

The Festival will go into full swing starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 18, with a day of rousing mountain music and dance featuring the SVC Junior Appalachian Musicians, Beech Mountain Echoes, The Sole Impact Cloggers, Julie Nelms & Friends, Medicine Lake Dancers, Vance Trull and The Welch Family. Saturday's admission is $3 for adults; children and students (K-12) are free.

The Country Fair will offer competition and exhibits of jams, jellies, pies, cakes, quilts, needlework and much more. To enter, bring your items to Stecoah Valley Center on Friday, October 17 between 1p.m. and 6 p.m.; baked goods only may be brought early Saturday morning.

Judging will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday morning and exhibits will stay on display until 3 p.m. For more information about the Country Fair, call 828-479-3364. The outside marketplace will feature a host of vendors offering everything from handcrafted jewelry and woodcrafts to gourds and cheese.

The Stecoah Artisans Gallery features the works of over 100 local and regional artisans and the Stecoah Weavers Foundation will present weaving demonstrations in the main building. The Cherohala Quilters Guild will have a quilt display in the main building.

Plan to visit the Civil War Encampment area as well as the antique tractor show. From corn grinding to music and clogging, there's something for everyone including games for the children.

Bring your family and friends to eat at one of the Festival's many food tents, which will offer barbecue, kielbasa, apple dumplings, meatball sandwiches, hamburgers, funnel cakes, hot dogs, fry bread and much more.

The Stecoah Valley Center kitchen will again be serving chicken and pork barbecue dinners.

On Sunday, October 19, enjoy a gospel singing in the Center's historic auditorium from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday's admission is free.

This year's festival has been expanded through Monday to include a Fall Color and Birding Hike at Fontana Village Resort. Hikers should meet at 9a.m. at the Hazel Creek Outfitters in Fontana Village Resort.

The Hike will be led by Recreation Director, Jerry Span and will include the Stecoah Gap area. The Balsam Mountain Preserve will present "Birds of Prey" at 7 p.m. in the Recreation Hall at Fontana Village Resort. All of Monday's events are free and open to the public.

For a full weekend of mountain entertainment, make your plans now to attend the Harvest Festival. The Center is located on Schoolhouse Road off Highway 28 in beautiful Stecoah Valley. For further directions or more information please call 828- 479-3364 or visit our website at www.stecoahvalleycenter.com.