WCU’s celebration of Appalachian culture also will feature a full schedule of mountain music, fun activities, dozens of booths of the region’s finest arts and crafts, and vendors offering ethnic, heritage and festival food. Balsam and Blue Ridge stages and the Circle Tent will offer continuous mountain music, storytelling and clogging. Headliner will be 2014 International Bluegrass Music Association “Enter-tainer of the Year” Balsam Range at 4 p.m. on the Blue Ridge Stage.

The festival also offers a variety of demonstrations and contests centered on authentic mountain folk arts and skills: competitions for best beards and mustaches, period costumes and chainsaw woodcutting. Apples are the key ingredients in this year’s entries for the annual “Best of the West” award in the Mountain Heritage Day “A Gathering In” Traditional Food Competition. A full schedule of events, contest rules, categories and entries are found at www.mountainheritageday.com.

The Mountain Heritage Center’s exhibits of Appalachian culture and history will be open all day. Festival attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and/or blankets for comfortable seating. Shuttles will operate throughout the day, with stops at designated parking and attraction locations. The event is free and open to the public.

www.mountainheritageday.com or 828.227.7129.