Downtown Waynesville Association

August 6th, there will be a buzz on the streets of Waynesville, North Carolina. The section of main street in front of the courthouse is closed off, bleachers are placed, and stages are erected. Bands get ready, the dancers warm-up, and Joe Sam Queen tests his microphone. When the street is covered in cornmeal… it’s time for some good old-fashioned square dancing and clogging. Deep in the roots of Southern Appalachian culture and the traditions of our Scots-Irish ancestors is the Round Dance.

Understanding the caller’s instructions is part of the fun and can be challenging to new dancers. Just as his father did in the 1930’s, Joe Sam Queen becomes the street caller and shouts “Circle Up!” and the dancers circle around… then you could hear “swing your partner”, which doesn’t mean the partner you started with, but the person standing beside you.  Or you could hear, “swing your corner”. The lady on a man’s left is his corner, and likewise the man on a lady’s right is her corner. So when you hear, “Bow to your partner, Bow to your corner.”, well you get the idea.

Come to the last Friday Night Street Dance of the season, it’s from 6:30 until 9:00pm. You can sit and soak and take it all in, or better yet, join in!  Right in front of the Historic Court House in Waynesville, NC

One of the most fascinating cultural events in Western North Carolina is happening July 22 – August 1, 2010.

According to Top Events USA, Folkmoot USA, The State International Festival of North Carolina, is one of the top festivals to be held in North Carolina each year. Folkmoot is a two-week celebration of the world’s cultural heritage through folk music and dance. The festival starts July 23rd with the Parade of Nations in Waynesville, NC.

This free event starts at North Main Street and ends in front of the Historic Court House on South Main. Later that evening, Waynesville will host the Folkmoot at First Friday Street Dance also on Main Street. This event is also free.

The balance of the two weeks will be filled with performances and workshops by up to 350 performers from the following countries: Russia, Latvia, UK (Irish step dancers), France, Switzerland, Peru, Jordan, Portugal and Poland.  The Folkmoot Festival features public performances at venues throughout Western North Carolina in the towns of Waynesville, Lake Junaluska, Maggie Valley, Canton, Clyde, Highlands, Bryson City, Cullowhee, Asheville, Columbus, Burnsville, Marion, Mars Hill, Flat Rock, Stecoah and Franklin.

For a complete schedule and for more information contact Folkmoot USA.

Photo from www.kaninis.com

The dancers and the support staff are all guests of the Folkmoot Friendship Center in Waynesville.  The building was once an elementary school, and for three weeks during each summer, it is the home to  guests from around the world.

The question I had was how do you feed all of these people?  Well, the school’s original cafeteria is still in place.  In fact during the rest of the year it is leased by an an absolutely wonderful catering company, KANINI’S. All-Natural Meals To Go.

But for now, the cafeteria comes to life with actual school “lunch ladies” serving and preparing the meals.  After all, who could do a better job?   Kanini’s is graciously working as planned through the kitchens of Blue Ridge Food Ventures during this time.

The Folkmoot Organization is looking for volunteers in various capacities.  If you are interested, please contact them.