The 37th Annual Heritage Weekend will be held on September 16 and 17 at the Blue Ridge Parkway’s Folk Art Center. This free celebration of mountain heritage is sponsored by the Southern Highland Craft Guild and features traditional crafts accompanied by music and dancing. A highlight of the weekend is the 37th Annual World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition on Saturday, from 2:00 to 3:00. A whimmy diddle is an Appalachian mountain toy traditionally made from two sticks of rhododendron. Notches are carved into one stick and a propeller is attached to the end. Rubbing the notches with the second stick makes the propeller spin. Can you get it to gee (spin to the right) and haw (spin to the left)? During the World Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition contestants are judged on the number of rotations between gee and haw they can complete during a given time. They may be asked to switch hands or whimmy diddle behind their back. All ages may compete with trophies given for best child, adult, and professional. Winners receive a Moon Pie, a t-shirt, and bragging rights. On going demonstrations will include traditional woodworking with traditional tools, weaving, spinning, dyeing, broom making, stone carving, and print making. Visitors will have the opportunity to try their own hand at some of the crafts and an activity table will encourage young people to create. A music stage will provide further entertainment with blue grass and gospel music. Local cloggers will demonstrate the energy and fancy footwork that goes into the mountain dance tradition. The Blue Ridge Parkway’s Folk Art Center is the ideal place for Heritage Weekend! There is free parking and a grassy area for picnics and relaxation. Spend an early autumn weekend in WNC honoring and learning about the crafts of yesteryear. Entertainment Schedule: Saturday, September 16 11am – Smoky Mountain Rhythm 12pm – Split Rail 1pm – Firefly 2pm – 37th Annual Gee Haw Whimmy Diddle Competition 3pm – J Creek Cloggers and the Ross Brothers Sunday, September 17 12pm – Level Ground Gospel 1pm – Carol Rifkin 2pm – Cole Mountain Cloggers with Carol Rifkin 2:30pm – Gospel Grass 3:30pm – Buncombe Turnpike PARTICIPANTS: Cassie Dickson – flax and spinning Lyle Wheeler - chairs Will Hines - coopering Ron McMahan - woodcarving Tim Nestor – bowl carving John Dickens - woodcarving Deedee Styles – natural dyeing Rita de Maintenon - crochet Lin Oglesby - knitting Barbara Miller - weaving Mary Nichols - spinning Martha Owen - spinning Marlow Gates – broom making Collene Karcher – stone carving Karen Collis – cornshuck doll making Peggy Whitted - weavin Ellie Kirby – print making Yancey Davis - blacksmithing Judith Long - soap making Connie & Ted Brown – bee keeping Tom Brown - heritage apples Anthony Cole – sheep shearing Joe Parham – sheep dogs