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Saturday, June 13, 2026
Music & Foodways Day at the Blue Ridge Music Center
12:00-5:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public
An afternoon of live music and foodways presentations including Appalachian Storytelling with Millie Hiatt (Mount Airy Spoken Word Society), Song-Keeping & Seed-Saving with William Ritter (Song to Seed), Beekeeping & Urban Farming with Samantha Foxx (Mother’s Finest Urban Farms), Baking & Heritage Seed Preservation with Jamie Swafford & Keia Mastrianni of Old North Farm, Songs & Stories with Fiddlin’ Poet Ken Waldman, and cultural demonstrations including chair caning, shingle splitting, heritage seed preservation, instrument-making with regional luthiers, and a ballad swap.

At 3:30 p.m., Colin Cutler & Hot Pepper Jam perform their musical blend of Appalachian old-time, blues, gospel, country, and rock’n’roll in the indoor theater. The Bluffs Restaurant will be onsite with homestyle food available for purchase.

An Evening with Steep Canyon Rangers
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Ticketed Event
Don’t miss the Steep Canyon Rangers live in concert in the Blue Ridge Music Center’s outdoor amphitheater. Part of the Music Center’s Summer Outdoor Concert Series, this event is open to season passholders and individual ticketholders.

Midday Mountain Music Celebration at the Blue Ridge Music Center
12:00-4:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Join us for an afternoon of performances and interviews with the Blue Ridge Music Center’s Midday Mountain Music groups, honoring 20 years of daily, free music presentations on the Parkway and the contributions of these significant local musicians.

The Music Center will be open from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Foodways Fair at The Bluffs
12:00-4:00 p.m.
Free and open to the public
Visit The Bluffs Restaurant for an afternoon of foodways presentations emceed by Sheri Castle and Director of the Center for Food & Culture, Dr. Lucy Long. Presentations include Appalachian Storytelling with Millie Hiatt (Mount Airy Spoken Word Society), Beekeeping & Urban Farming with Samantha Foxx (Mother’s Finest Urban Farms), Baking & Heritage Seed Preservation with Jamie Swafford & Keia Mastrianni (Old North Farm), and cultural demonstrations such as chair caning with Michael Dees, spinning with Matthews Historic Farm, and a pop-up from Independence Farmers Market.

The restaurant will be open for diners on a first-come, first-serve basis.

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