Jean Pack, pictured above, gives a demonstration in basket weaving at the Green Creek Heritage Festival.History of a growing festival

In the spring of 1999, Dr. Don McIntyre, then Pastor of Green Creek First Baptist Church, birthed the idea of a festival depicting life in Green Creek 100 years ago. His desire was to offer to the community and surrounding area a day of fun, with a look back at how our ancestors lived their daily lives.

The festival was held at Green Creek Community Center (previously Green Creek School) and many demonstrations were given that day of the tasks inside and outside a turn of the century home.&bsp; Antiques were on display and area history was shared with young and old. It was a wonderful start to what has grown to be a very successful festival. It has been a great experience with the festival growing in volunteers, participants, and attendees each year. &bsp;

11th year

Today, Marvin Arledge, President/CEO, and the Board of Directors of the Green Creek Community Center (a 501 (c) 3 corporation) oversee the plans for the festival.&bsp; The ideas from the first festival are still in place with many artisans demonstrating various crafts. A main concern from the beginning and still today was to keep the cost as low as possible so everyone could afford to come. Parking and admission are free. The only costs are for food and the purchase of craft items.

&uot;We are very excited about this year&squo;s festival and look forward to a record crowd,&uot; say festival organizers.

Parade, barrel roll

The Festival Parade has increased in participants each year; area civic clubs, church and school organizations, and scout troops are invited and encouraged to participate in the parade.

The parade will begin at 9:30 a.m., with Rev. Earl Byers serving as Grand Marshall.&bsp; Come early so you do not miss it! All interested veterans are asked to meet in front of Green Creek First Baptist Church at 9:15 a.m.to participate in the parade. The parade has been a wonderful success and an event everyone looks forward to. Local fire departments will compete in the &dquo;Firemen&squo;s Barrel Roll Competition&dquo; at approximately 11:30 a.m. Last year&squo;s winner was the Columbus Fire Department. &bsp;

Car, truck, tractor show

Powered by Faith Car Club will be in charge of the Antique Car, Truck and Tractor Show. The car show is open to all cars, trucks, tractors and motorcycles up to present day models. Registration is from 7 a.m. until noon, and requires a registration fee. Judging ends at 2 p.m. and trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m.

You can pre-register for this event by contacting David Waldrop at 828-863-4071 or Lori Nichols at 828-863-4585. Last year over 80 cars were on display and more are expected this year. If you preregister, and would like, you can drive/ride your vehicle in the parade.

Craft demonstrations

Many of the best crafters in the area are sure to be found at the festival this year. As in the past the festival has a large variety of crafts and some crafters will demonstrate how their crafts are made throughout the day. All crafts for sale must be handcrafted. Susi Kimbrell, Crafters Chairperson, can be reached at 828-863-4896, for information concerning crafts available this year and how to be a participant in the craft fair.

Demonstrations will be going on all day for bee keeping, leather crafting, historical uses of herbs, spinning, and blacksmithing. Other demonstrations will include basket weaving, uses of kudzu, stone polishing and wire wrap.

Country store

The Joe Rinehart Country Store, representing a general mercantile, will be located in the gym and offers a good selection of needed items. Homemade jams, jellies and other canned goods will be available along with fresh produce. Baked goods are also sold in the store. Each crafter is asked to donate one item to the country store which ensures a wide variety of inventory; these items are in addition to donations from the community. In the past, antique items have also been stocked, so stop in and browse!

Petting zoo, livestock show

Many of the same activities will be available this year including a petting zoo, wagon rides, and a 4-H Livestock Show. New this year will be a Draft Horse Exhibition and a local Farmers Market.

A 50/50 raffle, $1 per ticket, will be conducted with 50 percent of the total sales going to the Center and 50 percent going to the winner. The drawing will take place at 3 p.m. at the Car Show area and you do not have to be present to win.

Health Fair

Representatives from St. Luke&squo;s Hospital will be on site again this year to conduct a &dquo;Health Fair.&uot; The American Red Cross volunteers will be in their office located at the front of the gym to do blood pressure screening; they will also participate in the festival parade. The festival expects at approximately 1 p.m. (barring emergencies), &dquo;Big Mama&dquo; from Mission Memorial Hospital in Asheville, and &dquo;Regional One&dquo; from Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System in Spartanburg to make an appearance.

These emergency transport helicopters were here last year and were a big hit with everyone. The helicopters will be on exhibit and the crews will answer questions concerning the helicopters and emergency procedures. Polk County Sheriff&squo;s office will have officers on site to make children&squo;s emergency identification cards and give away a girl and a boy bicycle with safety helmets, the drawing will be at 3 p.m. and you do not need to be present to win.&bsp; McGruff, the Crime Dog, will come with the officers along with the office&squo;s drug dogs.

Entertainment

The entertainment at the Green Creek Heritage Festival has always been tops and this year will hold true to that tradition. Paula Brown has again lined up some of the best musicians in the area.&bsp; James Metcalf, WJFJ Radio, will emcee for the 11th year. Phil and Gaye Johnson will start off the musical entertainment this year at 10 a.m. Jack Roper will follow at 11 a.m. with his magic show.

At 11:30 a.m., Never Too Late, a recently formed group comprised of Woody and Edith Brammer, Rich Bauer, and Mary Dill will take the stage. We are excited to have LuLu Roman, star of Hee Haw Comedy Show to be our featured entertainer this year, she will sing at 12:30 p.m.

Following&bsp; Roman at 1:30 p.m. is Jennifer Prince who enjoys interaction with her audience and you will enjoy her performance.&bsp; Next up, at 2:30 is Southern Pride. Chairs will be available under the big tent for your convenience. Door prizes will be given throughout the day from this stage.

&dquo;Tell me a story,&dquo; is often the request of both children and adults. Storytelling is one of the earliest forms of folk art which has recently experienced a renewed interest. Storytellers for the festival this year are Jim Hinsdale and Lance Scarlett.

Some storytellers tell stories from their own imagination and/or experiences; other stories have been garnered and sometimes adapted from books and other storytellers. Jim grew up in Walton, Kentucky and graduated from Berea College. While working on his Master&squo;s Degree at Converse College he taught English and Literature at Chapman High School in Inman, SC.

He also taught four years at Saluda Schools before returning to Kentucky where he taught for an additional 21 years. After retirement he and his wife, the former Kay McEntire of Green Creek, moved back here and he taught at Polk County High School for several years. &bsp;

Jim has written stories and poems, many of which have been published. He won the 1995 Storytellers Contest at Berea College; this contest was sponsored by Loyal Jones and Billy Edd Wheeler, authors of a series of books on Appalachian humor.

He has been guest storyteller off and on for many years in Northern Kentucky and also at the West Virginia Liars Contest. He has provided entertainment for the Heritage Festival in the past.

Lance Scarlett is known as &dquo;The Minister of Irreverent Reverence&dquo;.&bsp;&bsp; Lance has always been a storyteller. Of course, he used to just call them lies, but now he aspires to inspire with his tales. He was born in Thomasville. He now resides in Rutherford County where he serves as the pastor of West Point Baptist Church. He also serves as professor of English at Fruitland Baptist Bible Institute in Hendersonville. He has been married to his wife Lori for eighteen years, and they have three sons:&bsp; Chris, Samuel and Eli.

He says, &dquo;The power of a story is incredible. A good story has the ability to take us to the world&squo;s end; it also has the ability to take us home again.&dquo;&bsp; (Schedule: Jim 10 ‐ 11 a.m.&bsp; and 1:30 ‐ 2:30 p.m.; Lance 12 ‐ 1 p.m. & 2:30 ‐ 3:30 p.m.)

Food

If food is a main reason for attending this year&squo;s Festival then you will not be disappointed.&bsp; Harry Denton will cook barbecue for the seventh year. If you have had Harry&squo;s barbecue in the past then you will not want to miss out; he is a first place winner of the Annual Blue Ridge Barbecue Festival held at Harmon Field, as well as winner of numerous other culinary awards.&bsp; Barbecue sandwiches will be available at all food stations. Barbecue plates with bread, slaw, baked beans and dessert will be served inside the cafeteria.

David Page will grill chicken leg-quarters again this year; these will also be served in the cafeteria; these plates will include the same side items as the barbecue plates.&bsp; Page&39;s chicken, a big hit for the last 2 years has sold out very quickly. The main food court will be located inside the walking track at the front of the property; this is where you can get a hotdog with homemade chili, barbecue sandwiches, tomato sandwiches, ice cream, soft drinks, lemonade and ice cold water. &bsp;

All of this with the exception of the tomato sandwiches will also be available across the road at the Antique Car, Truck, and Tractor Show. Barbecue and chicken will be available at 11 a.m.; hotdogs and all other food sales begin at 9 a.m.

Breakfast biscuits will be sold until 10 a.m. in the cafeteria.&bsp; So if food is your main attraction you will want to arrive with an empty stomach and enjoy!

All proceeds from the sale of food go the Community Center, a nonprofit community organization, with ten percent designated to a college scholarship which is awarded to a Green Creek resident each year. Registration forms for the scholarship will be available at each Information Tent or you may contact a board member for information on how to apply for this scholarship.

Polk County Historical Society will be onsite to share information about Polk County&squo;s past with an emphasis on Green Creek History. They will display pictures, maps and other memorabilia.

Along with historical facts, they will be sharing information passed from one generation to the next by stories and family history. Stop by and visit with these historians, and learn more about the olden times of our community and county.

Polk County RE-expressions will be in charge of recycling again this year. A conscience effort is made to recycle wherever possible by instructing the public to keep recycling materials separate from materials going to the landfill.

Everyone is invited and encouraged to come for the entire day. There will be something for all ages to enjoy. &bsp;

Directions: From I-26 E to US Hwy 74; travel approx. 6 miles to Hwy. 9S and turn right; Go approx. 5 miles and turn left onto Green Creek Drive. Parking will be on the right at the top of the hill and the festival will be on the left. The car show will be across the road from the Community Center in the Green Creek First Baptist Church parking lot.&bsp; Contact Festival Chairperson, Krista Haynes, at 828-863-4367 for more information.

Handicap parking is available and all areas are handicap accessible. Free admission and free parking! No pets, outside solicitation or food vendors are allowed at the festival.

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