annual event
Labor Day Weekend
Historic Murphy, NC

9th annual
Saturday
September 5, 2009
Konehete Park
and historic
Downtown Murphy

Free Admission
9am-4pm

celebrating the history, artistry and craftsmanship, music, and agricultural heritage of Cherokee County- North Carolina's first, last and finest place to be.

CLICK HERE FOR A VENUE MAP

Musicians On Stage
throughout the day

10:00 a.m.
BEAR NOTES

11:00 a.m.
A WING AND A PRAYER

Heritage Partners thanks
Nantahala Bank
and Dr. Tom Mims
for sponsorship contributions
to the 2009 Mountain Song Stage

And, a special thanks to Liz and Brad of COLD NOSE COLLEGE (and fine musicians in their own right) for presenting the Mountain Song Stage again this year, and sponsoring the musican lunches and all else!

Mountain Song Stage
Konehete Park
Accomplished and delightful musicians all, you'll enjoy the magical harmonies and instrumentation these talented people bring to the festival stage. From banjos to bag pipes and all the strings in between, it's happening on stage at Konehete Park from 10:00 a.m. 'til 4:00 p.m. Click on the photos to visit these musicians on the web:

12:00 noon
BUZZARD MOUNTAIN BOYS

1:00 p.m.
THE JOHNS 'N SUCH
Kari Sickenberger on guitar joins John Herrmann on banjo,
John Ingle on fiddle, John Miller on mandolin, and Meredith McIntosh on base
for some awesome old-time music. . .

2:00 p.m.
THE KARI SICKENBERGER BAND
(Kari's new album cover pictured above -
what a WOW she IS for the Mountain Song Stage again in 09!)

3:00 p.m.
BLUE RIDGE GRASS

Guided Walking Tours

depart from the historic town center at 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

Enjoy the heritage Cloggers,
performing on the corner at
Cline's 10:30 a.m.

Special presentation at
The Henn Theatre
at 1:00 p.m. >>>>

Murphy River Walk tour
departs at 3:00 p.m.

The Heritage Walk Tours
departing from Cline Hicks' service station at 10am, 11am and 3pm
downtown on Valley River Ave.

Enjoy a walking tour of historic sites throughout downtown Murphy, taking in the sights and sounds of the past. This year's tours will be guided, and will depart from Cline's service station by the Valley River Merchants building (across from Shoppes of Murphy on Valley River Ave.) in the historic downtown Murphy at 10:00 a.m. and again at 11:00 a.m. Departing at 3:00 p.m. will be a tour of the Murphy River Walk, which connects Konehete Park with the historic downtown and features the Leech Place of Cherokee legend.

Also at Cline's Corner, you'll find a festival info booth at the vintage historic Murphy photo reproductions from DIGITAL CREATIONS, CLOGGERS performing at 10:30 a.m., the Town-to-Park SHUTTLE running on the hour, the Cherokee County Senior Games/SilverStars, THE NUT NOOK- fresh roasted on site- cinnamon or salted nuts and fresh lemonade (nectar sweetened for the sugar conscious!), and more.

Cherokee Ceremonial Practices
in the 1800s
The Henn Theatre, downtown on Tennessee Street at 1:00 p.m.

Welcome Anne Rogers, PhD and Professor of Anthropology at Western Carolina University, who will present a special program about Cherokee ceremonial practices in the 1800s. Dr. Rogers will speak about the ceremonies, dances and story telling linking a rich Cherokee Indian culture from past to present.

Sponsored by Friends of the Murphy Public Library, this Road Scholars Speakers Bureau program is made possible through a grant funded by the North Carolina Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. To learn more about the NC Humanities Council, click on the logo above for its web link.

Antique Tractor Show

Confirmed Artists, Crafters
and Food Vendors:
CLICK HERE
for advance copy of set-up
info & instructions.

A WOW Arts & Crafts Show - 30 artisans!
Konehete Park
The Arts & Crafts show features original artwork and hand-made items for sale by local and regional area artisans. For your yourself or a friend or family member, how sweet to find unique things from our talented artisans you just can't find anywhere else. Bring your gift list, and create smiles for yourself and those you love!

The 9th annual Heritage Walk & Festival welcomes the following artists & crafters: Dharma Artisans (Bob & Lynn Gill, Morganton GA); Mountain Morning Craft Gallery (Andrews NC); Wildlife Plasties (Don & Cheryl Harding, Murphy, NC); Sawadee Pottery (Suda & Peter Goundry, Murphy NC); Carolina Beauty (Bobbie Allen, Murphy NC); Appleby Pottery (Debbie Appleby, Hayesville NC); Eden's Gems (Karen S. Hollenbeck, Murphy NC); Sherrill's Shirt Savers (Sherrill Knighton, Blairsville GA); Theron Clore Photography (Murphy NC); Carolina Crafting (Jackie Jentzsch, Murphy NC); Vernoica & Me (Caroline Glenn-Ingersoll, Blairsville GA); J & J Jewelry (Joy Howington and Jenny Young, Talking Rock GA); Ronne Barton (Murphy NC); Howard Arrowood (Murphy NC); A Memory Captured (Tim Griffin, Morganton GA); All Dolled Up (Gale Sicard, Lexington NC); Rock Hollow Crafts (Kim Nelson, Marble NC); Murphy Pottery (Roy Bamfield, Murphy NC); Gunter Family Crafts (Wanda Gunter, Marietta GA); Williams Whimsies (William Hoyt, Murphy NC); Eye Of The Wood (Alex Peers, Warne NC), Bangles and Baubles by Susan (Susan Perry of Murphy NC), Creative Woodcarving (Lynn & Priscilla Richardson of Hayesville NC), Cabin Fever Krafts (Michael Coffey of Murphy NC),Claire Creations (Claire Groff of Murphy NC), Beyond the Lens-Photographic Expressions by Lorraine Cook (of Murphy NC), Collins Bee Farm (Greg Collins of Murphy NC), Janet Fillyaw (of Murphy NC), Simplygourds & Whimsical Felt (Libby Whitmire of Candler, NC), Pine Needle Creations (Carmen Haynes of Murphy, NC and Estero, FL). . . and more!

Antique Tractor Show
Konehete Park
The Rusty Iron Tractor Club brings the area's agricultural heritage to light with over 50 vintage tractors on display, and with very proud owners. This group gets bigger every year! Konehete Park.

Food Vendors
Konehete Park
Come hungry and ready for pulled pork BBQ, baby back ribs, smoked turkey, Italian sausages w/peppers & onions, grilled burgers and dogs, funnel cakes, fresh lemonade, boiled peanuts, shaved ices, baked goods, ice cream, and and other tasty treats! Can't decide? Take home supper too!

AND MORE at
Konehete Park
Horse and pony rides for the children ($5 per to benefit the rescue efforts of Equine Second Chance of Andrews, NC). And, the Valley River Humane Society animals trailer will be on site (time to adopt? come see and arrangements can be made for follow up from the Shelter).

And. . .elsewhere in the historic downtown:

Museum Heritage Day
The Cherokee County Historical Museum celebrates its annual Heritage Day with exhibits and special events. Be sure to stop by the Museum, next to the Courthouse on Peachtree Street in historic downtown Murphy.

Farmers Market
Locally grown produce, plants and more can be found in the pocket parks, right in the center of town.

Harshaw Chapel & Cemetery
The DAR is kindly holding the historic Harshaw Chapel open for the day. . .you'll love exploring the cemetery there, with grave sites dating back well into the 1800s.

Enjoy the charming shops and eateries in historic downtown Murphy while you're here - it's great to support our local small business owners who offer what can't be found elsewhere. It's a 4-block area easy to walk, and sure to please!

Return Home
Heritage Partners

Directions: from the 4-lane (64/74/129/19) turn at McDonalds onto Hiwassee Street and follow over the Hiwassee River bridge to the Old L&N Depot on your left and the town center ahead. From the center of town, go straight on Valley River Avenue and follow out from town, over the Valley River bridge to Konehete Park!

Travel and Visitors Info : Visit the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce & Welcome Center
Located in the farthest western corner of NC, Murphy is an approximate 2-hour drive from the Asheville, Atlanta, Knoxville, and Chattanooga areas. We're also close (like 20-30 minutes) to the charming mountain towns of Andrews, Brasstown/Warne and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Young Harris, Blairsville and Blue Ridge GA; and Copper Hill/Ducktown TN.