Mountain Dance and Folk Festival®

Are you ready to be part of the 97th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival^®? On August 1, 2, and 3, 2024, a different show will be presented live on stage each evening allowing you to appreciate the talent and dedication of the hundreds of musicians, dancers, and storytellers who are preserving the traditions of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. These traditions involve not only the hand-clapping, toe-tapping rhythms of Bluegrass, the style and stories of century-old ballads, the high energy of clogging, the elegance of Big Circle Mountain Smooth Dance, the fun and entertainment of storytelling, but also include an awareness of the hardships and trials that have brought us to this place and time.

2024 Program and Performers (Tentative Line-Up)

Thursday August 1, 2024 – 7:00 PM

• Welcome and Introduction of Ed Herron…..Korey Warren
• History and Introduction of Emcees Carol Rifkin and John Roten…..Ed Herron
• Stoney Creek Boys… “Grey Eagle”
• Dancers
• Hometown Dance Team
• Michael Reno Harrell
• Brandon Johnson and Friends
• Songs From The Road Band
• Green Valley Cloggers
• Roger Howell
• Buncombe Turnpike
• Richard Hurley

Intermission

• Becky Stone
• Sons of Ralph
• Balsam Mountain Cloggers
• Tim McWilliams
• Nobody’s Darling String Band
• Whitewater Bluegrass Company

Friday August 2, 2024 – 7:00 PM

• Welcome and Introduction of Ed Herron…..Ben Scales
• History and Introduction of Emcees Laura Boosinger and John Roten…..Ed Herron
• Stoney Creek Boys…”Grey Eagle”
• Dancers
• Cole Mountain/Smooth
• Maggie Lauterer/Zack Allen
• Newfound Gap
• Sheila Kay Adams
• Hickory Flat Hoedowners/Clog
• Laura Boosinger
• Jerry and Bailee
• Emeline Scales/Ben Scales

Intermission

• Cole Mountain/Clog
• Donna Ray Norton
• Ted White/Bill Byerly
• The Peg Twisters
• Hickory Flat Hoedowners/Smooth Bearwallow Bluegrass Band

Saturday – August 3, 2024, from 2:00-4:00 PM Members of the Folk Heritage Committee are excited to announce the 4th Annual Youth Talent Celebration, in conjunction with the 97th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival. The event takes place in Kittredge Theatre at Warren Wilson College. The Saturday afternoon youth showcase is presented free of charge and will serve as great encouragement to the more than 50 youth performers scheduled for this year’s event.

Performers range in age from 5 – 18 and will share traditional Blue Ridge music and dance learned from teachers at a variety of programs including the Henderson County JAM (Junior Appalachian Musician) program, Madison County JAM, Transylvania County JAM, Academy for the Arts at First Baptist Asheville, and Durham’s Little River Cloggers. The event is directed by Josh Goforth, a highly accomplished storyteller and old-time, bluegrass, and swing musician. Goforth grew up attending events like this one and is now eager to see a new generation of talent take the stage.

Saturday August 5, 2023 – 7:00 PM

• Welcome and Introduction of Ed Herron…..Bill Wolcott
• History and Introduction of Emcees Richard Hurley and John Roten…..Ed Herron
• Stoney Creek Boys…Grey Eagle
• Dancers
• Little River/Smooth
• Hightop Mountain Harmony
• Don Pedi
• Sourwood Ridge
• Southern Highlanders
• Jeanette Queen
• The Waymasters
• Southern Appalachian Cloggers Intermission
• Marlee Merritt
• Josh Goforth
• Little River Cloggers
• Appalachian Consort
• Carol Rifkin
• Mountain Tradition Cloggers White Rock Revival

Tickets are available through Eventbrite at folkheritage.org and these are the ticket costs:  

This 97th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival^® has been made possible through the generosity of our music community volunteering their time and talent to preserve and promote the Southern Appalachian music, dance and storytelling heritage.