Calendar August/September

Floyd Country Store Traditional Appalachian Music

Thurs.-Sat. throughout summer: The Floyd Country Store, home of the Friday night Jamboree, hosts regional Appalachian music Thursdays through Sunday. Visit: floydcountrystore.com

Aug. 10-12: An annual music and arts festival in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Enjoy a variety of music from bluegrass to jazz, as well as many other activities such as workshops and even hula hooping. Ticket prices vary. HomeGrown Hideaways, Berea, Ky. For more information, or to purchase tickets visit: homegrownhideaways.org

Earth Sabbath Celebration

Aug. 13, 7 p.m.: Step out of your hectic life into a joyful celebration of the mystery and meaning of the universe. A time for community with people caring for creation. Open and free to the public. Asheville, N.C. For more info, contact: Jean Larson, [email protected].

Stand up that Mountain

Aug. 23, 6:30 p.m.: Presentation by author, Jay Leutze on his novel, “Stand Up That Mountain: The Battle to Save One Small Community in the Wilderness Along the Appalachian Trail.” Reception and book signing afterwards. Catawba College, Salisbury, N.C. More information and registration: centerfortheenvironment.org.

Music on the Mountaintop

Aug 24-26: Join Appalachian Voices at this annual music festival featuring 15 diverse bands in the beautiful Grandfather Mountain area of the Appalachian Mountains. This festival has given $12,000 back to local non-profit organizations, AIRE, Appalachian Voices, and Mountain Alliance. General Admission $99. Single day tickets available as well. Grandfather Mountain Campground, N.C. Visit: musiconthemountaintop.
com

Outdoor KnoxFest

Aug 24-26: A three-day outdoor festival benefiting Legacy Parks Foundation. For the adventurous outdoor lovers. Events include the 3 Day Anglers Carp Cup, the Urban Trail Race, Bike and Boat Rentals and more. Rates and registration at active.com. Knoxville, Tenn. Visit: outdoorknoxville.com.

Clear Creek Festival

Aug. 31 & Sept. 1-2: A homecoming for you and yours over Labor Day weekend. The stage will be graced with great artists, healing and rejuvenation in a family-friendly, loving environment. Rockcastle County, Ky. Visit: clearcreekfest.org

Beech Mountain Mile High Kite Festival

Sept. 2, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.: A great tradition with lots of color and fun activities for kids of all ages. There will be a kite decorating station,
kite store, flying competition, face painting,
food and craft vendors. Free event, the first 300 children 12 and under will receive a free kite. Free parking. Beech Mountain, N.C. Visit:beechmtn.com

Terrapin Hill Harvest Festival

Sept. 7-9: Music festival featuring a wide spectrum of musical styles by over 20 bands, food and craft vendors, kids playground, fire dancers, bonfires, and family camping. Weekend pass $90 in advance, $110 at the gate. $5 per vehicle parking fee. Free camping next to your vehicle. Harrodsburg, Ky. Visit: terrapinhillfarm.com/festival

Organic Gardening Workshop

Sept. 8: All-day workshop on organic gardening. Subjects covered will include: composting, growing in raised beds, lasagna gardening, cold frames winter gardening, beneficial insect promotion, mulching, gardening by the moon and more. Registration deadline: Sept. 1. Visit: ForestRetreats.net

Wellness and Water: Health Impacts of Fossil Fuel Extraction

Sept. 8: Conference sponsored by OVEC and the WV Chapter of the Sierra Club. Speaker Wilma Subra, workshops and panels with impacted residents, and experts including Dr. Ben Stout and Dr. Michael Hendryx. Registration begins at 8 a.m. $10 suggested donation. Morgantown First Presbyterian Church, W.Va. Contact Robin Blakeman at [email protected] or call (304)522-0246.

West Virginia Wind Forum

Sept. 25: Tour the AES Laurel Mountain wind and energy storage facility in Elkins, W.Va. Canaan Valley Resort & Conference center, Davis, W.Va. Registration for both the forum and the AES facility tour is open at: marshall.edu/cegas/events/wvwind

Rooted in the Mountains: Valuing our Common Ground

Oct. 4-5: Designed to raise awareness of health and environmental consequences of mountaintop removal coal mining. Participants will go away with a new sense of urgency and tools to use in valuing our common ground. Western Carolina University, N.C. For more information, contact Pamela Duncan at (828)227-3926 or email [email protected]

Bethel Half Marathon & 5K Race

Oct 13: This race is Bethel Rural Community Organization’s main fundraiser for the year. They are a small non-profit organization that raises money to go toward farmland and rural preservation. Haywood County, N.C. Reigster online: bethelrural.org.

Changing of the Leaves Festival

Oct 13-14: See mountaintop removal and celebrate Appalachian culture with Larry Gibson and other inspiring mountainkeepers. Kayford Mtn, W.Va. Learn more: mountainkeeper.blogspot.com

SOCM Turns 40!

Oct. 20: Help Tennesseans celebrate 40 years of SOCM (Statewide Organizing for Community eMpowerment) history. For more information, visit: socm.org.
Email [email protected] to be included in our Get Involved listing. Deadline for the next issue will be Sunday, Sept. 30, at 5 p.m. for events taking place between Oct. 10 and Dec. 5.