Cumberland County launching a new Heritage Festival to educate younger generations on Appalachian traditions and preserve the history of early life in the region.
Fair Board President Danny Smith said the inaugural event this weekend focuses on demonstrating historical skills such as spinning wool and grinding cornmeal.
“This is our first year to try to do it, but we’re trying to bring back some of the old Appalachian ways and educate a lot of the younger folks especially that doesn’t know how life was back in the early years,” Smith said.
Smith said the festival will feature a car show with vintage vehicles to help honor the past. Smith said the event is intended to show how people previously lived by planting gardens, canning food and raising their own livestock.
“Well, to see how hard it was on a lot of folks and where we’ve come to, what was born out of those times, I think helps us all strengthens us,” Smith said.
With the timing of the festival coinciding with the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, Smith said a look back allows the community to learn from mistakes in the past and prepare for the future. Smith said the Heritage Festival offers a special opportunity to reflect on old cars, local food and traditional ways of life.
“Just to learn and, you know, you never know what the future may hold, we may have to fall back on some of these old traditions,” Smith said.
Smith said the board is relying on various vendors to bring unique goods to the event to help kick off the first year. Smith said the success of the day will be measured by the number of vendors and attendees who come out to support the new initiative.
“This is our first year we’ve worked on it, where next year we’ll grow from it, learn from everything this year, but try to make it bigger and bigger every year.”
Smith said the Fair Board is also planning a Potato Festival for September that will include prizes for the heaviest sweet and Irish potatoes.
