The 34th Annual Pioneer Day festival at the Mountain Gateway Museum drew people from all over to Old Fort Saturday. Folks at Pioneer Day were able to hear bluegrass singer and musician Wayne Erbsen in the amphitheater on grounds of the museum. Erbsen has won numerous prizes at fiddler’s conventions in North Carolina and Virginia but also plays the banjo, mandolin, and guitar. He has recorded 18 solo CDs, written and published more than 30 instruction and song books, and has taught in Warren Wilson College’s Appalachian Music program. Two bluegrass-based bands: Possum Creek and Carolina Express performed on the amphitheatre stage as well. The Friendship Dulcimer Club played old-time favorites on the museum’s front porch. The crowds were able to enjoy traditional mountain crafts, food trucks, vintage farm tools and equipment, antique cars, Confederate re-enactors, special exhibits, storytellers, children’s games, and much more as part of this family-oriented event. A special feature of this year’s Pioneer Day festival was the exhibition of the blood-stained neckerchief worn by Confederate Brigadier Gen. James Johnston Pettigrew of North Carolina when he was mortally wounded during a Civil War skirmish at Falling Waters, Md. on July 14, 1863. Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 379 in Marion raised $1,200 to have Pettigrew’s neckerchief conserved and pressure-mounted. On loan from the N.C. Museum of History in Raleigh, the red silk neckerchief was on exhibit at Mountain Gateway Museum for the Pioneer Day weekend. In addition to music, crafts, and food, various community organizations - including McDowell County Public Library, Keep McDowell Beautiful, McDowell County Historical Society, Old Fort Extension and Community Association, and the North Carolina Home Guard – had their booths set up to showcase their services. The Route 70 Cruisers also held their annual Mountain Thunder car show in downtown Old Fort and showed off their classic cars, motorcycles and trucks. See photos from the car show in Tuesday’s McDowell News and see more photos from Saturday’s festivities at mcdowellnews.com.
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The 34th Annual Pioneer Day festival at the Mountain Gateway Museum drew people from all over to Old Fort Saturday. Folks at Pioneer Day were able to hear bluegrass singer and musician Wayne Erbsen in the amphitheater on grounds of the museum. Two bluegrass-based bands: Possum Creek and Carolina Express performed on the amphitheatre stage as well. The Friendship Dulcimer Club played old-time favorites on the museum’s front porch. The crowds were able to enjoy traditional mountain crafts, food trucks, vintage farm tools and equipment, antique cars, Confederate re-enactors, special exhibits, storytellers, children’s games, and much more as part of this family-oriented event. In addition to music, crafts, and food, various community organizations - including McDowell County Public Library, Keep McDowell Beautiful, McDowell County Historical Society, Old Fort Extension and Community Association, and the North Carolina Home Guard – had their booths set up to showcase their services. The Route 70 Cruisers also held their annual Mountain Thunder car show in downtown Old Fort and showed off their classic cars, motorcycles and trucks. See photos from the car show in Tuesday’s McDowell News and see more photos from Saturday’s festivities at mcdowellnews.com.
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The 34th Annual Pioneer Day festival at the Mountain Gateway Museum drew people from all over to Old Fort Saturday. Folks at Pioneer Day were able to hear bluegrass singer and musician Wayne Erbsen in the amphitheater on grounds of the museum. Two bluegrass-based bands: Possum Creek and Carolina Express performed on the amphitheatre stage as well. The Friendship Dulcimer Club played old-time favorites on the museum’s front porch. The crowds were able to enjoy traditional mountain crafts, food trucks, vintage farm tools and equipment, antique cars, Confederate re-enactors, special exhibits, storytellers, children’s games, and much more as part of this family-oriented event. In addition to music, crafts, and food, various community organizations - including McDowell County Public Library, Keep McDowell Beautiful, McDowell County Historical Society, Old Fort Extension and Community Association, and the North Carolina Home Guard – had their booths set up to showcase their services. The Route 70 Cruisers also held their annual Mountain Thunder car show in downtown Old Fort and showed off their classic cars, motorcycles and trucks. See photos from the car show in Tuesday’s McDowell News and see more photos from Saturday’s festivities at mcdowellnews.com.
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The 34th Annual Pioneer Day festival at the Mountain Gateway Museum drew people from all over to Old Fort Saturday. Folks at Pioneer Day were able to hear bluegrass singer and musician Wayne Erbsen in the amphitheater on grounds of the museum. Two bluegrass-based bands: Possum Creek and Carolina Express performed on the amphitheatre stage as well. The Friendship Dulcimer Club played old-time favorites on the museum’s front porch. The crowds were able to enjoy traditional mountain crafts, food trucks, vintage farm tools and equipment, antique cars, Confederate re-enactors, special exhibits, storytellers, children’s games, and much more as part of this family-oriented event. In addition to music, crafts, and food, various community organizations - including McDowell County Public Library, Keep McDowell Beautiful, McDowell County Historical Society, Old Fort Extension and Community Association, and the North Carolina Home Guard – had their booths set up to showcase their services. The Route 70 Cruisers also held their annual Mountain Thunder car show in downtown Old Fort and showed off their classic cars, motorcycles and trucks. See photos from the car show in Tuesday’s McDowell News and see more photos from Saturday’s festivities at mcdowellnews.com.
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The 34th Annual Pioneer Day festival at the Mountain Gateway Museum drew people from all over to Old Fort Saturday. Folks at Pioneer Day were able to hear bluegrass singer and musician Wayne Erbsen in the amphitheater on grounds of the museum. Two bluegrass-based bands: Possum Creek and Carolina Express performed on the amphitheatre stage as well. The Friendship Dulcimer Club played old-time favorites on the museum’s front porch. The crowds were able to enjoy traditional mountain crafts, food trucks, vintage farm tools and equipment, antique cars, Confederate re-enactors, special exhibits, storytellers, children’s games, and much more as part of this family-oriented event. In addition to music, crafts, and food, various community organizations - including McDowell County Public Library, Keep McDowell Beautiful, McDowell County Historical Society, Old Fort Extension and Community Association, and the North Carolina Home Guard – had their booths set up to showcase their services. The Route 70 Cruisers also held their annual Mountain Thunder car show in downtown Old Fort and showed off their classic cars, motorcycles and trucks. See photos from the car show in Tuesday’s McDowell News and see more photos from Saturday’s festivities at mcdowellnews.com.
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The 34th Annual Pioneer Day festival at the Mountain Gateway Museum drew people from all over to Old Fort Saturday. Folks at Pioneer Day were able to hear bluegrass singer and musician Wayne Erbsen in the amphitheater on grounds of the museum. Two bluegrass-based bands: Possum Creek and Carolina Express performed on the amphitheatre stage as well. The Friendship Dulcimer Club played old-time favorites on the museum’s front porch. The crowds were able to enjoy traditional mountain crafts, food trucks, vintage farm tools and equipment, antique cars, Confederate re-enactors, special exhibits, storytellers, children’s games, and much more as part of this family-oriented event. In addition to music, crafts, and food, various community organizations - including McDowell County Public Library, Keep McDowell Beautiful, McDowell County Historical Society, Old Fort Extension and Community Association, and the North Carolina Home Guard – had their booths set up to showcase their services. The Route 70 Cruisers also held their annual Mountain Thunder car show in downtown Old Fort and showed off their classic cars, motorcycles and trucks. See photos from the car show in Tuesday’s McDowell News and see more photos from Saturday’s festivities at mcdowellnews.com.
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The 34th Annual Pioneer Day festival at the Mountain Gateway Museum drew people from all over to Old Fort Saturday. Folks at Pioneer Day were able to hear bluegrass singer and musician Wayne Erbsen in the amphitheater on grounds of the museum. Two bluegrass-based bands: Possum Creek and Carolina Express performed on the amphitheatre stage as well. The Friendship Dulcimer Club played old-time favorites on the museum’s front porch. The crowds were able to enjoy traditional mountain crafts, food trucks, vintage farm tools and equipment, antique cars, Confederate re-enactors, special exhibits, storytellers, children’s games, and much more as part of this family-oriented event. In addition to music, crafts, and food, various community organizations - including McDowell County Public Library, Keep McDowell Beautiful, McDowell County Historical Society, Old Fort Extension and Community Association, and the North Carolina Home Guard – had their booths set up to showcase their services. The Route 70 Cruisers also held their annual Mountain Thunder car show in downtown Old Fort and showed off their classic cars, motorcycles and trucks. See photos from the car show in Tuesday’s McDowell News and see more photos from Saturday’s festivities at mcdowellnews.com.
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