Special Events

Saturday, September 18th, 2010

Heritage Weekend guests gather for the 2008 Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition Stewart Stokes

Corbin Gates perfects his whimmy diddle skills to get ready for the 2008 competition. Stewart Stokes

Traditional music is always a highlight of Heritage Weekend at the Folk Art Center. Stewart Stokes

Peggy Whitted demonstrates weaving at Heritage Weekend 2008. Stewart Stokes

Apple Chill Cloggers delight the crowd during Heritage Weekend 2008. Stewart Stokes

Whimmy Diddle A whimmy diddle is an Appalachian mountain toy made of two wood sticks.

The 30th Annual Heritage Weekend will be held September 18-19 at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Folk Art Center. This free festival sponsored by the Southern Highland Craft Guild features traditional music and dancing, storytelling and heritage craft demonstrations.

A highlight of the weekend is the 30th Annual World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition on Saturday, 2:00-3:00pm. Joe “Colonel Buncombe” Bly will emcee the Whimmy Diddle Competition.

Learn from area experts about beekeeping, canning and preserving, coopering, heritage toy making, blacksmithing, natural dyeing, spinning, quilting, whittling, basket weaving and folk pottery.

What is a Whimmy Diddle?

A whimmy diddle is an Appalachian mountain toy made from two sticks of wood. Notches are carved into one stick and a propeller is attached to the end. The other stick is rubbed against the notches, causing the propeller to spin either gee (to the right) or haw (to the left).

During the competition contestants are judged on the number of rotations between gee and haw they can complete during a given time. They may also have to switch hands during the competition.

The Blue Ridge Parkway’s Folk Art Center is the ideal place for Heritage Weekend with plenty of free parking, access to hiking trails and grassy areas for a picnic. Spend an early autumn weekend in WNC honoring and learning about crafts of yesteryear while enjoying the beauty of the region. For more information call 828-298-7928 or visit www.craftguild.org. 

2010 Participants
Bill Henry, whittling
Hugh Bailey, folk pottery
Lyle Wheeler, furniture making and heritage toys
Homer Sales, rifles
Tom Brown, apples
Leniavell Trivette, heritage toys
Jan Morris, children's activities
Sandra Rowland, children's activities
Cassie Dickson, natural dyeing
Barbara Miller, weaving
Will Hines, coopering
Don Duncan, hand carved treenware
Rodney Hopkins, carving
Bill Alexander, bark baskets
David Crandall, wood boxes
Friendswood Brooms
David Moore, bark birdhouses
Mary Nichols, spinning
Alwin Wagener, blacksmithing
Peggy Whitted, weaving
Dede Styles, natural dyeing
Nora Mosrie, children's activities
Anthony Cole, sheep shearing
Connie Brown, beekeeping
NC Co-op Ext, canning and preserving

Entertainment Schedule
Saturday, September 18
10am  Shinola Troubadours of Possum Splendor
11am  Woody Pines
12:30pm  Bear Down Easy
1:30pm  Apple Chill Cloggers with Honey Holler
2pm  30th Annual World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition
3pm  Apple Chill Cloggers with Honey Holler

Sunday, September 19
12pm  Sara Lynch-Thomason, Appalachian ballads
12:30pm  Split Rail
1:30pm  Level Ground Gospel
2pm  Blue-Eyed Girl
3:30pm  Buncombe Turnpike

1pm and 3pm  Joe Parham Border Collie Demo
2pm  Tim Barnwell, book signing for his book, Hands in Harmony 
 

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