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Plott – Toberfest 2023

October 5, 2023 - October 8, 2023

The Haywood County Historical & Genealogical Society (HCH&GS) announces its recent approval by the Town of Canton to co-sponsor a fundraiser to benefit the Society and the Canton Historical Museum. As part of an increased effort in Haywood County to celebrate our rich history, the HCH&GS will hold a new event called “Plott-Toberfest” which combines the traditional PlottFest UKC Annual Competition, a celebration of our NC State Dog – The Plott Hound, and the rich German history of Haywood County.

Traditional German Heritage to be Featured –The early settlers of Haywood County and their German roots will be celebrated during this four-day festival featuring those who initially resided in the German settlement of Deutsch Cove, now known as Dutch Cove. Among those settlers were the Shooks, Smathers, Rhodarmers, Messers, and Plotts (with the first Plott Hounds). Various programs will discuss this history and share some of the family stories.

Beginning Thursday Oct. 5th at the Smathers Farmers Market, a traditional Bavarian themed band will provide entertainment. Then, on Friday October 6th and Saturday October 7th, the festival will feature various Plott Hound competitive events sanctioned by the UKC Worldwide, hosted by Bob Plott – a direct descendant of Henry Plott, who brought the dogs to Haywood County. Plott-Toberfest musical offerings will include performance from Darren Nicholson & Audie Blaylock All-Star Bluegrass Band, The JackTown Ramblers, Tim McWilliams and William Ritter, and Richard Hurley. 

As a special finale, on Sunday October 8th, a Shape Note Singing in Dutch Cove at the Morning Star United Methodist Church will celebrate the legacy of Quay Smathers, the singing master and recipient of the prestigious North Carolina Folk Heritage Award. Participants will gain a deeper understanding of the tradition and have the opportunity to sing shaped-notes as originally sung in the Southern Appalachians in the Blue Ridge style. The singing will begin at 1:00 pm.

“Plott-Toberfest promises to have something for everyone. Live demonstrations of early Appalachian skills such as hide-tanning, blacksmithing, and pit-sawing are in the works. These events combined with the Plott Hound competition and exhibits at the Museum of Haywood County History in Clyde and the Canton Historical Museum in Canton will give participants a choice of ways to engage with our Haywood County beginnings”, says June Smathers-Jolley, Member of the Board of Directors of the HCH&GS. 

Visit nchchgs.org or call (828) 564-1044 for more information about how to get involved.

Details

Start:
October 5, 2023
End:
October 8, 2023
Event Categories:
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Website:
https://www.mountainmemoriesproductions.com/plottfest

We welcome submission of Western North Carolina events focused on our heritage themes of mountain music, crafts, foodways, outdoors and Cherokee culture. Please submit two weeks in advance.

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