Join in the many events scheduled throughout the month of May to celebrate Barn Month in Madison County as the Appalachian Barn Alliance has partnered with others in the county to celebrate our heritage.
Madison County has more than 10,000 barns and was the largest producer of burley tobacco in North Carolina in the mid 20th century. Many of those tobacco barns and other general purpose barns from 100 years ago still stand. Agriculture has been a way of life since the first settler arrived and shapes the culture and the scenery.
The entire month, you will be able to see the 200-year evolution of the barn building traditions through a pictorial display at Zuma Coffee in downtown Marshal (7 North Main Street)l. This display truly highlights how the barns tell the story of our changing agricultural heritage.
The celebration begins on Thursday, May 4 at 7:30 pm with a free Lecture and Guided Tour of the “Shelter on the Mountain: Barns and Building Traditions of the Southern Highlands” exhibit at the Rural Heritage Museum at MHU. The lecture is by Taylor Barnhill, Architect & Chief Researcher of the Appalachian Barn Alliance in Peterson Lecture Room, Blackwell Hall. This is followed by a guided tour of the Exhibition at 8:15 PM, Rural Heritage Museum. For more information call (828) 689-1400.
On the next evening, Friday, May 5 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, the Arts Center is hosting the second annual “THE BARNS OF MADISON COUNTY” exhibit with an Opening Reception. Stop by the Madison County Arts Center, 90 S. Main Street, Marshall (828 649-1301) and mix with both amateur and professional photographers and artists who have been invited to display and sell their images of barns. Enjoy this free reception and talk with the artists about their work and celebrate the barns of our county. The exhibit continues through the end of the month and is open Monday through Friday from 10am to 4pm.
Then on Sunday, May 14 from 1 to 3pm, , learn introductory drawing basics in sketches in a ‘Barn Journals’ : Color Drawing Workshop with local artist and art educator Susan McChesney; The workshop will be at the Beech Glen Community Center, Mars Hill. All color drawing/watercolor materials and a handmade paper journal provided for just a suggested donation to ABA. More information and reservations (required) please email [email protected] or call 207.232.7759
On Sunday, May 21 from 1 to 4pm, join The Mad Spinners on the MHU Quad, near the Rural Heritage Museum, as they demonstrate spinning. The spinners work with wool, cotton and silk and will have some of their finished products available for purchase. This is also another chance to drop in to see the exhibit as the Museum before it closes.
And, of course, the signature event of the month is the fourth annual Madison County Barn Alliance Barn Tour Day on Saturday, May 20 which begins with a tour (starting at 2:30pm) and continues at Steen’s Barn in Mars Hill. It’s a full event beginning with a guided bus tour of some of the local barns (different ones for the drive by–this year we will repeat the 2016 Roberts’ barn as the one that attendees get out of the bus and actually walk up to.) This is a perfect site with several different types of barns and there was an extensive waiting list last year of those who weren’t able to get on the tour last year. The tour is followed by a dinner catered by Chupacabra Latin Café from Woodfin, mountain music, and a country auction.
Advance purchase of tickets is required and the price is $40 per person or $75 for two. Tickets will go on sale on May 1 for the general public. Appalachian Barn Alliance members will have an opportunity to purchase tickets beginning April 24 for a special price of $35 per person. (Member price is the same until sold out) Space on the tour is limited and sold out quickly last year. For information and reservations call 828 380-1178 or email [email protected].