Bascom Lamar Lunsford “Minstrel of Appalachia”

The Lunsford Festival is an all-day festival celebrating regional music and dance traditions. The event is the second oldest folk festival in Western North Carolina and was named in honor of cofounder Bascom Lamar Lunsford. Lunsford was a musician and folklorist who dedicated his life to collecting and promoting the music of the Southern Appalachians. Through his work he became known as the “Minstrel of the Appalachians.” The festival, which is now in its 52nd year, brings out the region’s finest musicians and dancers.  

10:00-5:00: Concert on the Upper Quad
12:00-1:00: Fiddle, Banjo, Guitar, Dulcimer, Shaped Note Workshops, followed by an open jam in the Sunken Garden
1:30-3:30: Ballad Swap
5:30-7:30: Community Dance