ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The oldest continuous folk festival in the United States will return to Asheville this weekend for another year of Southern Appalachian clogging, storytelling and bluegrass music.

Founded by musician and folk historian Bascom Lamar Lunsford, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival began in 1928 as a showcase of traditional mountain music and movement in Pack Square Park. This weekend, the 98th rendition of the festival, organized by the Folk Heritage Committee, will continue Lunsford’s mission with three nights of performances by dozens of dancers and musicians.

“It offers so much. It offers bluegrass, it offers old-time, it offers clogging, it offers ballads, it offers the Appalachian smooth dance, it offers storytelling,” said Judy Miller, co-chair of the festival. “It’s a variety of Appalachian traditions that appeal to folks because it does take them back to a simpler time.”

Attending the festival

The 98th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival will be held nightly from 7-10 p.m., Thursday, July 31–Saturday, Aug. 2 in the auditorium at Asheville High School, 419 McDowell St. Tickets purchased in advance are $20 for adults, $5 for students and children 12 and under, $55 for all three nights or $15 a person for groups of 10 or more. Tickets purchased at the door will each cost $5 more.

Obtain advance tickets here.

The 98th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival will be held nightly from 7-10 p.m., Thursday, July 31–Saturday, Aug. 2 in the auditorium at Asheville High School, 419 McDowell St.

98th Mountain Dance and Folk Festival Line-up

The festival is split across three nights with three different programs of performers.

Each evening will feature a wide variety of local talent and Appalachian traditions. Even for Miller, who has been attending the festival for 25 years, it would be impossible to pick a favorite.

“Oh, all of them. They’re wonderful. They’re all wonderful,” Miller smiled. “All of our performers are volunteers. No one is paid, and they do it because they love it and they want to preserve it.”

Check out a list of the performers below:

Thursday, July 31

  • Appalachian Consort
  • Buncombe Turnpike
  • Lenny Hollifield
  • Richard Hurley
  • Nobody’s Darling String Band
  • Ben and Emeline Scales
  • Sons of Ralph
  • Whitewater Bluegrass Company
  • Balsam Mountain Cloggers
  • Cole Mountain Cloggers
  • Homecoming Dance Team
  • Green Valley Cloggers

Friday, Aug. 1

  • Sheila Kay Adams/Donna Ray Norton
  • Laura Boosinger
  • Bailee Brandon/Jerry Sutton
  • Josh Goforth
  • Hightop Mountain Harmony
  • Brandon Johnson
  • Maggie Lauterer/Zack Allen
  • Tim McWilliams
  • The Peg Twisters
  • Becky Stone
  • Stoney Creek Boys
  • Hickory Flat Cloggers
  • Hickory Flat Smooth Dancers
  • Mountain Tradition Cloggers

Saturday, Aug. 2

  • Connie Regan-Blake
  • Michael Reno Harrell
  • Roger Howell
  • Marlee Merritt
  • Newfound Gap
  • Don Pedi
  • Carol Rifkin
  • Sourwood Ridge
  • Southern Highlanders
  • Stoney Creek Boys
  • The Waymasters
  • Bailey Mountain Cloggers
  • Bailey Mountain Smooth Dancers
  • Little River Cloggers
  • Little River Smooth Dancers
  • Southern Appalachian Cloggers
  • White Rock Revival

For more information about the festival, visit www.folkheritage.org/asheville-events/mountain-dance-and-folk-festival.

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