Free Community Event! 10 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
It will be a celebration of art AND history as the Daniel Boone Family Festival and Arts Smart 2022 join forces in Historic Downtown Mocksville on Saturday, May 7th, from 10 a.m – 5 p.m, with entertainment on the outdoor stage continuing until 7:30 p.m. Featuring visual art and performances by Davie County School students, local artisans, historical tours throughout the county, food, live music, and a kids’ area with free inflatables and balloon artistry, this all-day event has something for everyone!
Previously held on the same day but in different locations, organizers were excited to collaborate on one exciting event this year.
“The offering of two events downtown on May 7th brings many people of all ages and interests,” said Tami Langdon, Mocksville’s community development coordinator. “We will have arts in all forms ranging from visual to performing with DCS Art Smart. And the Daniel Boone Family Festival is “rich” with the history of the Boones through the tours and the support of Linda Leonard and the Davie County Historical Association. Plus, we will have artisans and crafts from vendors throughout North Carolina. This festival has been postponed for two years due to COVID, so I’m excited to have the Daniel Boone Festival return with the artisans, great entertainment, and now Arts Smart. This is a day for EVERYONE to enjoy Downtown Mocksville.”
Jenni Pleasant, Davie County Schools (DCS) marketing and communications officer, agreed, adding, “We are excited to bring Arts Smart 2022 to our community as part of the Daniel Boone Family Festival. We are grateful for our partnership with Ashley Furniture Industries for the event and thankful for the collaboration with the Daniel Boone Family Festival in order to collectively engage more of our community. As a collaborative event, we are bringing together students, staff, families, and the community in celebration and fellowship.”
The Fun Begins on Friday Night with Music at The Station
Music fans, get ready! The Festival will kick off on Friday night, May 6th, with a delightful double-header at The Station from 6 – 9:30 p.m.
The musically versatile Davie County duo of Adam Smith & Avery Brown will perform a mix of county, southern rock, rock, and R&B from 6 – 7 p.m. Rounding out the night, popular Mocksville folk duo His & Hers (Caleb and Sara Davis) and Americana/folk favorites Down the Mountain will present a rollicking good time with original music, timeless traditionals, old classics with a spin, and surprising covers that will keep the crowd singing along.
Retrace the Steps of Daniel Boone, the Revolutionary War, Historic Homes, and More!
Daniel Boone spent nearly 25 years in the Yadkin Valley area, and two of the three tours revolve around landmarks associated with the Boone clan. The big attraction for Boone buffs are the tours that run at 10:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and again at 2:15 p.m. Tours are $5 and are provided by bus or van.
These tours include stops at historic Joppa Cemetery, where Daniel’s parents Squire and Sarah Boone and his brother Israel are buried (Israel’s grave is the oldest in the cemetery); the Boone Tract at Bear Creek, a 640-acre parcel of land granted to Squire Boone in 1753 and later sold to his son Daniel; the Daniel Boone Marker in Farmington; and nearby Pudding Ridge, where General Cornwallis crossed Dutchman Creek in pursuit of Nathanael Greene (Cornwallis named the area for the thick mud in the area his troops had to march through).
A tour departing at 11:45 a.m. also visits Joppa Cemetery, Bear Creek, and the Boone Tract, but adds tours of the Jesse A. Clement House (built in1828) and Historic Center Arbor, constructed as a site for “camp meetings” during the Third Great Awakening in 1876.
The last tour, which departs at 1:15 p.m., takes visitors to the River Park at the Bull Hole; Veach’s Muster Ground; Revolutionary War hero Richmond Pearson‘s gravesite; and the Historic Zachary Holt House and Village Museum of Cooleemee, both of which have exhibits centered around the area’s once-booming textile industry.
All tours are $5 and are provided by bus or van.
Celebrate the Arts
Arts Smart 2022, sponsored by Ashley Furniture, will take place along North Main Street from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and will feature student artists and performers from all schools in Davie County, with ages spanning from kindergarten through the 12th grade.
Ashley Furniture has a national focus on building communities around arts celebrations and began its partnership with DCS for Arts Smart in 2014. Arts Smart 2022 will include stages with exciting theater, music, and dance performances, visual art galleries, make-and-take stations for children, food vendors, and more. This important event brings together students, families, staff, and the community to celebrate the arts. Check back HERE beginning April 1 for a full schedule of performances.
Catch a Concert on West Depot
Grab your chair and head over to West Depot for a hand clappin’, foot tappin’ good time!
Alex Key & The Locksmiths
Saturday’s Performance Schedule
1:30 – Hotwax and the Splinters; fast-paced bluegrass
This bluegrass band has been picking together for over 20 years, and that energy shows as they perform the best bluegrass around the Piedmont area. The ensemble includes Clyde Lewis – mandolin/lead vocals; Ed Renn, guitar/lead vocals; Nathan Farlow, dobro/vocals; Jeff Rumsey, bass/vocals; Jeff Rumsey, Mark Wallace, banjo; and Ryan Lambert, lead guitar. Visit the band at http://www.SplinterNation.com/.
3:30 – Alex Key & the Locksmiths; country
Next on the stage is rising Nashville artist Alex Key, a native of Wilkesboro. Alex’s band features a 90’s country sound with a bit of honky tonk. The band has appeared with Wynonna Judd, Tyler Childress, Kentucky Headhunters, and more. Visit the band at https://www.alexkeymusicgroup.com/.
6- 7:30 p.m – Everette; country, rock & roll
The headliner for the day is Everette, two Kentucky natives whose music is rooted in country, rock & roll, and southern storytelling. Everette was named after George Clooney’s folk singing brother in the movie O Brother, Where Aren’t Thou? Now residing in Nashville, their showcase includes “Slow Roll,” “Dang the Whiskey,” “ Way Back,” and a perennial favorite, their rendition of “Man of Constant Sorrow.”
All of the performances are free of charge. Alcoholic beverages and water can be purchased in the concert area (no coolers, please). Food will be available for purchase at the food court.
Additional Information
The Daniel Boone Family Festival is sponsored by the Mocksville Tourism Development Authority. To learn more, visit MocksvilleNC.org or contact Community Development Coordinator Tami Langdon at tlangdon@mocksvillenc.gov or (336)-753-6705.
Arts Smart 2022 is sponsored through the generosity of Ashley Furniture and the Ashley for the Arts initiative. Through this initiative, arts educators throughout Davie County have been able to participate in grants for equipment, instructional supplies, instruments and instrument repairs, and technology for their classrooms.
To learn more about this year’s event, visit https://www.godavie.org/departments/academic-services/arts-smart .
Original source can be found here.
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