Foxfire Heritage Day is in the books and it was a tremendous success! The weather mostly behaved itself, holding out until near the end of the event to release the downpour, and of the some 500 folks who attended, everyone seemed to have a delightful time. A great big thank you goes out to our demonstrators and volunteers who put their all into making the day special. We also want to thank everyone who came out to share the day with us. We’re already talking about how to make next year even better.
Since the staff was just swamped with keeping everything running, we didn’t have much time for snapping too many good pictures. Luckily, we had some folks who came out and took some nice photographs and shared those with us! The first of these come from Glen Whittington, II of Holly Springs, GA – a freelance photographer who operates as Mountain Creative. Thank you, Glen!
Isabel King takes a moment to speak with a young visitor.
John Huron picks away on one of his handcrafted banjos.
The newest addition to Foxfire Heritage Day, Joshua Native Kirk demonstrates primitive fire building.
These next two images come from Tanya Smith of Hollywood, GA (also our executive director’s mother). Tanya was a portrait photographer for many years and had a studio in Clarksville, GA, but has since fallen for landscapes and old barns. Tanya is also a great community volunteer who dedicates her Fridays to working at the local no-kill animal shelter, Paws for Life.
The Bell Grist Mill looking particularly special on the day.
Another new addition to the festival, Milissa Dewey demonstrates on her loom at the Phillips Cabin.
The final set of images comes to us from Michelle Bourlet of Tallulah Falls, GA. Michelle and her boys, Joel, Gray, and Paul, have been volunteering at Foxfire for over a decade. They do a great job interpreting in period dress and adding a real depth to our heritage events. Michelle is also the organizer and director for our Summer Heritage Days. We’re very thankful for the Bourlets!
The Bourlets and their friend Hannah just before the festivities begin.
Michelle Bourlet chats with some volunteers from the Foxfire Magazine program.
Isabel King with Sharon Stiles on the porch of the Savannah Cabin (Sharon is our curator, Barry Stiles’, mother).
Mary Bohlen chats with visitors about open hearth cooking. Kelly Bradley of the Atlanta History Center looks on.
Gray Bourlet tries his hand at primitive fire making. Looks like he got it.
I want to to say thank you to T.J. Smith and all the staff at Foxfire for having 4 Winds Survival School be a part of Heritage Days, we had an amazing time!
It was such an honor to share primitive fire skills and be a part of such a historical event. We are looking forward to future classes and events!
~ Native
(Owner / Lead Instructor of 4 Winds Survival School)
As always, us at Long Mountain Living History Center loved our time at Foxfire. Being a part of it all for me personally is like wrapping up in a warm blanket after a day spent working in icy weather; we look forward to many more years.