A huge thank you to everyone who attended the John C. Campbell Folk School’s Friends & Family Day on Saturday, May 6! We welcomed hundreds of kids and adults to our campus for a fun-filled day of hands-on crafting, demonstrations, and music and dance activities.  

Smiles abound as folks of all ages sewed quilt squares, made pinch pots and animal sculptures out of clay, decorated cookies, built bee houses, painted with watercolors, potted up pollinator plants, made textured and enameled pendants and keychains, and much more. Performers including the Mountain Area Storytellers, our Junior Appalachian Musicians, Julie Nelms & Sonny Reighard, the Folk School Cloggers, Rapper Magic Sword Dancers, and Stix-in-the-Mud-Border-Morris team entertained crowds while they savored local food from Hansen’s Tasty Tacos, Smoky Mountain BBQ Company, Frank’s Hot Dogs, Heyman Kettle Corn, and Black Stag Coffee. 

“It was so exciting to see folks of all ages trying their hand at traditional and contemporary craft, many for the very first time.” said Morgan Budzinski, the Folk School’s Events and Volunteers Manager. “We’re proud to offer this free community event where folks from all ages and backgrounds, especially those unfamiliar with our classes and studios, can experience the magic of the Folk School.” 

In addition to everyone who joined us for a spectacular day, we want to thank our hardworking volunteers and demonstrators, artists who donated to our Craft Shop raffle, Folk School staff, local food vendors, Clay County Fire and Rescue, and music, dance, and storytelling performers. Every one of you helped make Friends & Family Day a huge success! This free community event would also not be possible without generous contributions from our donors. Every dollar counts when it comes to making events like these possible; consider donating today at folkschool.org/giving 

We look forward to seeing you again at our upcoming Empty Bowls fundraiser and later this year at our Fall Festival. We also have music and dance activities weekly along with weeklong and weekend classes year-round. And don’t forget: Locals can receive 25% off class tuition with proof of residence! Learn more on our website, folkschool.org 

We also encourage folks to visit Olive’s Porch, our space in downtown Murphy, for short-term workshops and community events that offer a sample of what we do here week after week. Visit olivesporch.org to see what’s coming soon.