Blue Ridge Parkway Celebrates “Brinegar Days” The public is invited to join in the celebration of the 19th annual “Brinegar Days” festival on the grounds of the Brinegar Cabin at Milepost 238.5 on the Blue Ridge Parkway, Saturday August 6th from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 7th from 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. All activities are free of charge. Visitors will be able to tour the cabin and observe and participate in several activities associated with mountain life at the turn of the twentieth century. The interpretive activities recognize Caroline and Martin Brinegar and their children, who started building their cabin 119 years ago. Descendents of the Brinegar family are extended a special welcome. Listed below are examples of cultural demonstrations on Saturday, August 6th. QUILTING HORSE AND WAGON TEAM BLACK SMITHING OPEN HEARTH COOKING OLD TIME AND MOUNTAIN MUSIC SPINNING SHAPED NOTE SINGING WEAVING FLAX PROCESSING NATURAL DYEING WOODWORKING & OTHER AFFAIRS OF “PLAIN LIVING” On Sunday, August 7th, the event will focus on local and community history. Staff and historians will be presenting oral history, photograph preservation, scrapbooking, and shape note singing workshops, as well as presentations about the history of the local area. Reverend Don Richardson of Saddle Mountain Union Baptist Church will be a special guest. Ted Coyle, Associate Professor of Anthropology at Western Carolina University, will interview Rev. Richardson. A schedule of these programs will be announced in the near future. The public is invited to spend the day on the grounds. Bring a chair or blanket and a lunch! Traffic may be a bit congested, and it is suggested that drivers exercise caution in the parking area and that pedestrians please walk in provided paths and not in the road, for their safety. For more information, please contact Erin Brasfield at 336-372-8568. The Blue Ridge Parkway would like to thank the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway for their assistance with this event. The organization is arranging for the donation of lunches and beverages as well as a Blue Ridge Parkway T-shirt to the volunteers who will be demonstrating. For more information about volunteering with the Blue Ridge Parkway please call the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway at 1-800-228-7275.