Southern Appalachian Arts and Crafts Fair
Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens, South Carolina, will host a Southern Appalachian Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday, May 20, 2017, from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. Watch regional artisans and craftsmen at work demonstrating their skills with a variety of time-honored traditions unique to the Southern Appalachian Region. Bring a little extra spending money as there will be plenty of opportunities to purchase unique handcrafted items from local artists, craftsmen, and traditional demonstrators.
This free event will feature musical performances by Pretty Little Goat String Band, delivering a fresh, energetic take on old-time string-band music. This five-piece group from Brevard, North Carolina, includes the driving and innovative bass fiddle work of JT Linville, the train-whistle, foghorn buck dancing of Tim Fisher's fiddle, the cigar-box chunking mandolin rhythm and leads of Josh Carter, the charming percussion of Mallory Carter's home-made washboard contraption, and Owen Groom's fretless banjo sounds like water rolling off rocks. Everyone in the group trades off strong old-time vocal leads and harmonies. Just as musicians of the Southern Appalachians have done for centuries, the band creates its own music from old mountain ballads and fiddle music, while paying respect to the grand tradition. Pretty Little Goat String Band will be performing between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Warming up the stage around noon will be singer/songwriter, Alexa Rose. This North Carolina songstress has been writing songs for nearly a decade. Born in Virginia, Alexa was handed her first guitar at age 13. She has since written buckets full of songs, releasing her debut album, “North,” at age 19. She has shared the stage with artists such as Jessica Lea Mayfield, The Ragbirds, and The Whetherman. Influenced by artists such as Lucinda Williams and Joni Mitchell, Rose has been called “a rising voice of the region,” marrying her traditional, rootsy sound with a distinct newness you can’t quite put your finger on. Now, at 23, she's released her sophomore album, “Low and Lonesome.” This new album has been well received, earning Alexa lots of airtime on everyone’s favorite regional and publicly supported radio station, WNCW.
There will be lots of other things to see as the historic site hosts a variety of folklife and traditional-arts demonstrations. There will be blacksmithing, bowl-digging, flint-knapping, chair-caning, moonshining, broom-making, basketmaking, pottery, quilting, spinning, knitting, weaving, wood-carving, metalsmithing, beekeeping, and leatherworking demonstrations. Talk with the artists and purchase their traditional arts to take home. As always, they encourage visitors to bring their favorite old-time instruments and join in the “open jam,” which takes place throughout the day under the ancient cedar tree beside our beloved 1791 log cabin.
The Centerpiece of the Hagood Mill historic site is the water-powered 1845 gristmill. One of the finest examples of nineteenth century technology in the Upcountry, it operates just as it has for the last century and a half. The mill will be running throughout the day. In the old mill, fresh stone-ground cornmeal, grits, and wheat flour will be available for purchase. In addition, rye flour, Basmati rice flour, oat flour, oatmeal, popping-corn meal, popping-corn grits, organic yellow cornmeal, organic yellow corn grits, and buckwheat flour are produced and may be available. Hagood Mill cookbooks and a variety of other mill-related items are also available.
There promises to be plenty to see and do and lots of fun! There is a $5.00 parking fee for the day but admission is free to the Hagood Mill Site as well as to the Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site. All proceeds from parking help offset the costs incurred at Hagood Mill Historic Site.
So, head on out, grab a plate of great food on site from Tom’s Tasty Café, or Meat in the Middle (taco food truck) and enjoy a special day at the mill.
Anyone interested in vending or demonstrating Appalachian arts and crafts for this event is encouraged to call (864) 898-2936 or email BillyC@co.pickens.sc.us for additional information.
Date: May 20, 2017 10:00 AM-4:00 PM
Location: Hagood Mill Historic Site & Folklife Center | 138 Hagood Mill Rd., Pickens, SC 29671
Admission: $5 Parking/Free Admission
