Carolina In The Fall Festival To Take Place in Wilkes

By Greg Fuller

There is another music festival that has taken root and steadily gained popularity in Wilkes County over the last five years. The Sixth Annual "Carolina In The Fall Festival" will be held at the farm of Robert and Brenda Shepherd in North Wilkesboro on Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18. The Shepherd farm is located on the Armory Road about a half mile east of Highway 115. The two-day festival has been recognized for its excellence by the North Carolina Association of Festivals and Events. The event won Best in Class awards for its Website, Event Photos, Sponsorship, Media and Printed Material and Press Kit during the last four years.

The festival features performing and recording artists of both local and international flavor including The Kruger Brothers who will be performing throughout the festival; BackPorch Bluegrass, George Hamilton IV, Maynard Holbrook, The Johnson Family, Spirit Fiddle of New Hampshire, Lody van Vlodrop of Germany. Performers invited to accompany The Kruger Brothers include, The Elkville String Band, Wayne Henderson, Bobby Hicks, Clint Howard, Steve and Penny Kilby, Bob Kogut, New Horizon, Norman Landsberg and Socorro de Castro of California, Andy Owens, Mike Palmer, Tut Taylor, Samantha and Zeb Snyder, Charles Tesh and Charles Welsh along with many others.

Producers Night (Friday) features The Elkville String Band who will open the festival followed by an evening performance by The Kruger Brothers.

The gates open at 5 p.m. on Friday and the music begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, the gates open at 9 a.m., so bring a lawn chair and get ready for some family entertainment from down on the farm.

While performers playing traditional Bluegrass and Folk music are the centerpiece of the "Carolina In The Fall Festival", other activities including the inaugural N.C. Banjo Contest to honor some of the finest Banjo musicians from North Carolina and music workshops and forums for novices and aspiring performers will be conducted throughout the festival. An area for children's crafts, games, face painting and other assorted activities is available. Vendors selling all sorts of crafts, clothing articles, memorabilia and souvenirs and much more will have booths erected on the festival grounds. Assorted food and beverage vendors will be selling a variety of freshly prepared entrees, snacks, desserts, and thirst quenching beverages for the festival crowd.

If you are interested in attending the "Carolina In The Fall Festival," tickets may be purchased in advance by mail ($15 Friday and $20 Saturday) or purchased at the gate ($20 Friday and $25 Saturday). Mail check or money order to Carolina In The Fall at 579 Armory Road, North Wilkesboro 28659 or contact Brenda Shepherd at (336) 667-5344. Additional information may be obtained by clicking to www.carolinainthefall.com.