Founders Day Festival is Saturday in Pickens

Event officials announced final plans for this Saturday’s Founders Day Music Festival in Pickens. The free event will begin at 10:00 AM and end around 9 PM in the evening.

The event schedule and plan illustrates the many activities, and the 11 hours of music, that people can enjoy that day. Hundreds of roots musicians, including old time, country, blue grass and folk, will descend on Pickens. Eleven bands will be featured on the Blue Ridge stage. Individual and groups are expected to jam, at will, up and down Main Street throughout the day. Early evening will bring all musicians together to set what is expected to be a record-setting jam.

Non-musical activities now include numerous “lost craft’ experts providing demonstrations on blacksmithing, cotton ginning, quilting, musical instrument construction, gunsmithing, and more. Special activities, such as face-painting and traditional games, will entertain the kids. The new “Turtles On The Town” tour will guide visitors to various historical sites around Pickens. Vendors will offer traditional arts and crafts as well as food and beverage such as homemade ice cream.

Andrew Pickens will be there throughout the day to tell of his life and have photos taken with him. Specially selected vintage vehicles will be on display. The Pickens County Historical Society will display a large model of the downtown monument that will be constructed to honor the city’s namesake. The Hagood-Mauldin House and the Pickens County Museum will be open for special tours. Living history reenactments of the War Between the States will be presented, on the hour, at Bruce Field. A special shuttle will run between Main Street and the stadium.

The Pickens County Museum will offer several unique events just for Founders Day. Jeanette Moody will be demonstrating quilting in front of the Settlers Cabin exhibit. Daniel Brennan, as an authentic Confederate soldier, will read historical letters as part of the “War Between The States” exhibit, and Nick Hallman, Heritage Award winning musician, will offer Appalachian style fiddle playing in front of the “Music of Pickens County” exhibit

Organized by the Pickens Revitalization Association, Founders Day Music Festival generous sponsors include the Historic City of Pickens, Cornell Dubilier, Blue Ridge Electric Co-op, Hiott For SC House, Nestfeathers Gallery of Art, Great Oaks Dental, Pickens Guitar Company and the Roper Law Firm. Other event contributors include the Carmicals, Senator Larry Martin, TD Bank and Pizza Inn. For additional information, visit www.historicpickens.com or contact the PRA office at 864-878-0105.