Morristown Times

The Cumberland Gap FolkFest is making its return this year, and the Abraham Lincoln Library and Museum (ALLM) is a host for the event in partnership with Guardians of the Gap. The FolkFest is scheduled for Saturday, August 13, with a full day of free events at both the ALLM and in the Town of Cumberland Gap. Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a sponsor for the event.

Visitors to the ALLM, located on the main LMU campus, can connect with Appalachian culture while also touring the museum. All day long, participants can visit the Pioneer Village, where you can view apple butter making, bullet molding and visit with a Civil War fiddler. There’s also a full slate of events scheduled for the LMU stage, which will be at the ALLM:

• 10 a.m. – The Crater City Quilters will show and discuss quilting techniques as well as do a children's activity.
• 11 a.m. – LMU’s Dr. Marybeth Babos will give the presentation, “Granny’s Medicine Cabinet: Herbalism in Appalachia.”
• Noon – Appalachian author Jane Hicks will do a book reading and signing.
• 1 p.m. – Retired University of Virginia at Wise professor Preston Mitchell will present “Dan of Black Mountain.”
• 2 p.m. – Appalachian author Lisa Parker will do a book reading and signing.
• 3 p.m. – ALLM Program Coordinator Natalie Sweet will present “Finding Your Appalachian Roots: An Introduction to Genealogy on the Internet.”

The FolkFest began in 1974 by the Townlift Committee to help restore and promote the historic town and to highlight folk arts and crafts. It took place on a regular basis for numerous years before organizational capacity ended. After almost 30 years, supporters are excited to renew the tradition. To tell the story of FolkFest as a historic event and the people who made it happen, a temporary exhibit, “FolkFest: Exhibiting Appalachian Tradition” will open on Friday, August 12, from 6-9 p.m. at the LMU Convention Center in Cumberland Gap. It will be open the entire day of FolkFest, and will remain open to the public through August 20, 2022. Admission is free.

The LMU Women of Service (WOS) will be in the LMU Convention Center as well during the FolkFest, with information about the philanthropic efforts of the organization. The LMU WOS will also be selling tickets for the annual fashion show, coming up August 18. For those with sensory processing disorders and/or special needs, a sensory room will be located in the LMU Convention Center to provide a safe space.

In addition to participating as a site host, the ALLM will be offering free shuttle rides from the ALLM to Cumberland Gap and back, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the day of FolkFest. There will be numerous other musical, craft and cultural activities in the town. A full schedule of events can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/FolkFestCumberlandGap.  

Lincoln Memorial University is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies. The main campus is in Harrogate, Tennessee. For more information about the undergraduate and graduate programs available at LMU, contact the Office of Admissions at 423.869.6280 or email at admissions@LMUnet.edu.

Original source can be found here