Trade Days Festival June 23-25

By Scott Nicholson

nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

The 18th annual Trade Days is taking place this weekend in the historic community of Trade, Tenn., just over the state line.

The festival celebrates Appalachian and Native American culture with demonstrations, exhibitions and events. Cheese-making, quilting, butter churning, soap making, and other crafts will be on display, as well as ceremonial Native American dances and a plethora of entertainment. A petting zoo and children’s lumberjack competitions are also part of the festivities.

The event kicks off June 23 with a breakfast at Trade School, followed by the ceremonial Blessing of the Mountain at 9 a.m. Admission for the day is $10 for adults ($8 in advance), $5 for children ages 5-12 ($3 in advance), and a special Friday admission price of $5 for seniors. Three-day passes are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages 5 to 12.

Saturday morning will kick off with the annual parade at 9 a.m. and the day will feature a pie-eating contest with a $25 prize. Clogging, bluegrass, blues and country will take place on the live entertainment stage.

Some of the attractions include the “All The King’s Horses” performing horse show, a “pow wow” sponsored by Native Way Productions, a lumberjack demonstration, and perennial favorite Grandpa Cratchit, a puppet act.

The Midnight Ramblers, a bluegrass act from Virginia, will perform on June 24 at 11 a.m. The band consists of teenagers Austin Boggs on mandolin, Cherise Bates on bass, Abram Mullins on banjo and Marcus Johnson on guitar.

Sunday features a gospel group at 10 a.m. followed by a non-denominational worship service, with craft vendors beginning at noon.

The festival began as a way to fund a community center and park. Trade is located on U.S. 421 west of Boone. For advance tickets, call 423-727-6398.

Trade Days Schedule

Friday, June 23

9 a.m.-Welcome And Prayer, Douglas McFadden, President Trade Days, Inc.

9 a.m.-Closing - Demonstrations

Making Apple Butter, Lye Soap, Tobacco Twisting, Quilting, Quilt Display, Weaving, North Carolina Bee Keepers, Trade Days Biscuit Baking, Churning Butter, Making Cheese, Trade Days Museum, Antiques, Old Photos, Antique and Old Tools

Antique Saw In Operation, Hit Or Miss Engines, Motors, Grist Mill In Operation.

11:30 -1 p.m.: Native American Pow-Wow

3-4:30 p.m.: Native American Pow-Wow

6-7:30 p.m.: Native American Pow-Wow

10 -10:30 a.m.: All The King’s Horses

1:30 - 2 p.m.: All The King’s Horses

4:30 - 5 p.m.: All The King’s Horses

10:30 - 11:30 p.m.: All American Lumberjacks

2 - 3 p.m.: All American Lumberjacks

5 - 6 p.m.: All American Lumberjacks

10 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m.: Grandpa Cratchit show

T. J. The Clown Will Be Strolling All Day

Petting Zoo - All Day

Trade Days Train - In Operation Daily

Live Entertainment - Lower Stage

1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.- Lindsey Deboard

2 - 2:45 p.m.- Sugar Foot

3 - 3:45 p.m. - Unaka Baptist Acteen Clowns

4 - 4:45 p.m.- Will Be Announced

5 - 5:45 p.m.- Watauga River Boys

6 - 6:45 p.m.- Indian Performance

7 - 7:45 p.m.- Fleet Feet Cloggers

8 - 8:45 p.m.- Grady Stout & Company

Saturday, June 24

9 a.m - 10 a.m.- Parade Lineup at the state line

10 a.m.- Trade Days Parade

9 a.m.-  Closing - Demonstrations

Apple Butter, Lye Soap, Tobacco Twisting, Quilting display, Biscuit Baking, Churning Butter, Making Cheese, NC Bee-Keepers, Trade Days Museum, Antique Saw In Operation, Hit Or Miss Engines, Motors, Grist Mill In Operation

9:30 - 10 a.m.- All The King’s Horses

1:30 - 2 p.m.- All The King’s Horses

4:30 - 5 p.m.- All The King’s Horses

10:30 - 11:30 a.m.- All  American Lumberjacks

2:30  - 3p.m.- All American Lumberjacks

5 - 5:30 p.m.- All American Lumberjacks

12:30 p.m.- Lumberjack Sports Camp.

11:30 - 1 p.m.- Native American Pow-Wow

3 - 4:30 p.m.- Native American Pow-Wow

5 Pm - 7:30 p.m.- Native American Pow-Wow

Saturday entertainment

11 a.m.- 11:45 a.m.- The Midnight Ramblers

12 - 12:45 p.m.- Stars Express Cloggers

1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.- Blues Odyssey

2 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.- In Cahoots!

3 p.m.- 3:45 p.m.- Clarence Howard Band

4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.– Native American Performance

5 p.m. - Buck Haggard Band

Sunday, June 25

10 a.m. - 11 a.m. - The Harmon Family

Trade Days Memorial Service

Speaker: Preacher Derrick Wilson

Entertainment

12 - 12:45 p.m.- True Gospel Mission

1 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.- Stars Express Cloggers

2 p.m.- 2:45 p.m.-Slapping Leather

3 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.- Country Magic

4 p.m.– 4:45 p.m.– Native American Performance

5 p.m. - Trade Days giveaway