The “Golden Threads” Shindig on the Green mural is the first historical mountain music mural in Western North Carolina. The mural was unveiled in 2016, the year of Shindig of the Green’s 50thanniversary. Muralist Doreyl Ammons Cain interviewed Appalachian musicians throughout the Asheville, NC area and beyond to find how their stories and music interconnected. She found that what the musicians wanted most was to pass on to the next generation of players what they had learned. The “Golden Threads” mural celebrates the history of the event, past and current performers, and emerging, youthful talent.

The mural is located on the side of Pack’s Tavern which borders the south side of Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville It is part of the new Appalachian Mural Trail, which connects historical and cultural murals in small towns within easy driving distance of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Golden Threads Mural  Description:

• #1 Mural Panel – “About Sundown” Pictured- 1) Top left- The Smathers Family 2) Top middle- Betty Smith 3) Top right-Glen Bannerman and the Stony Creek Boys 4) Bottom left- Bascom Lamar Lunsford 5) Bottom right- Folk Heritage Committee Smooth Dancers 6) Bottom center- a young Bryan Sutton. 
• #2 Mural Panel – “Future Stars” Pictured- 1) Top left- Grace Morris and Brady Powell 2) Top middle- Carley Arrowood 3) Top right-Lillian Chase 4) Bottom left- Jonah and Grayson Riddle 5) Bottom right- Rhiannon Ramsey 
• #3 Mural Panel – “Shindig on the Green” The Audience: People from all over the world come, families & couples bringing their lawn chairs and blankets to picnic & enjoy the music. The stage- beginning left- 1)Two young dancers from Jeff Atkins’ Cole Mountain Cloggers, Harold “Slim” Garrison, David Holt, Richard Hurley, Uncle Ted White, Jeanette Queen, Kim Ross & the JCreek Cloggers including the Ross Brothers.

Many murals tell the stories of communities large and small throughout the mountains and foothills of Western North Carolina, and the Appalachian Mural Trail (AMT) links them together and provides information and access to these outdoor artworks.

The AMT attracts visitors into these communities, enhancing the interpretation of history and culture to be found there, thus supporting local economies. Presently, 62 cultural murals are showcased on the mural trail. Trail organizers intend to inspire other small Appalachian communities to create their own high quality outdoor heritage murals, with paintings of folk tales, Cherokee legends, mountain music, and the beauty of the land.

“Our vision for the Appalachian Mural Trail is to link the outdoor historical mountain murals together as one trail. People can enjoy the beauty of the Appalachian Mountains through experiencing nature while learning about our mountain ways as they travel into the towns and communities on a mural quest, a cultural treasure hunt,” says Doreyl Ammons Cain, mural trail Director.

The AMT’s website, is an interactive resource to guide visitors to all murals on the trail. Visitors to the murals can take a 'selfie' in front of a mural, upload it to the mural trail website and receive a free tee shirt.