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America's long running folk festival, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, is slated to return to Asheville's Diana Wortham Theater on Thursday through Saturday, August 2 - 4, 2001. This will mark the 74th consecutive year of this noteworthy festival, spotlighting the music that is native to the Appalachian region.Bascombe Lunsford, from the hamlet of South Turkey Creek, started the festival in 1927. During the early years, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival was staged at McCormick Field. Early success quickly brought it indoors, and the festival was held for years at the City Auditorium. The traditions behind the festival remain today just as they did in the early days - musicians are invited to participate in the festival so that they may share their music with others and provide a showcase for that music. Musicians might play bluegrass, intergenerational ballads, old-time music, or dulcimer. No payment is made for any appearance by any of the musicians; the idea behind the festival and among the musicians is to keep the music alive through sharing its beauty. Some of the finest folk musicians in the world participate in the festival.
The Mountain Dance and Folk Festival is closely tied to Shindig on the Green. Many of the musicians who participate in the festival also play on a weekly basis throughout the summer at Shindig. In fact, proceeds from the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival help fund Shindig on the Green, keeping it free to the public. Tickets for the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival are now on sale through the Diana Wortham Theater box office. Tickets are $10 each. For additional information, please contact the theater box office at 828-257-4530.
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As a testament to its remarkable life and importance in maintaining the music of the region, UNC-TV has produced several documentaries on the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival through the years. 