PlottFest not just about canines
PlottFest 2024 will be held at the Maggie Valley Festival Grounds Saturday, April 27th from 9 a.m. until 10 p..m. There are many reasons to attend. First, it’s affordable, entertaining, educational, and just plain good family fun — with something for everyone.
There will be 54 local artisans selling their handmade wares and 10 or more additional craftsmen and a primitive camp demonstrating authentic Appalachian culture such as leatherwork, pottery, flintlock rifle displays, powder horns, hand forged knives, wood carvings and books — much of it for sale as well.
Moreover, from these 64 folks, 55 are from Western North Carolina — mostly Haywood County — with the remainder from other nearby areas of Appalachia, giving you the opportunity to support authentic regional artists.
Secondly, there’s great food and drinks available — with more than 10 food trucks on site, all mostly local too, with a wide variety of delicious food.
And we have your entertainment needs covered with great local entertainers like the J Creek Cloggers, The PlottFest All-Star Bluegrass Band, Creekside Collective and William Ritter & Tim McWilliams.
Most importantly, PlottFest is a celebration of the official state dog of North Carolina — the Plott Hound — and a celebration of Appalachian culture. Plott Hound competitions and programs are scheduled all day, including a UKC Bench show and various other competitive events, all showcasing the magnificent skills of the Plott breed.
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All dog competition winners will be honored onstage with awards of handcrafted pottery by Cory Plott of Plottware Pottery. And multiple awards are being presented to past and present legends of the Plott breed, almost all of them from WNC or east Tennessee.
Let’s not forget that while the Plott Hound is indeed our official state dog, Haywood County is where the breed first found worldwide notoriety when it was recognized as an official pure-bred dog by the UKC in 1946. What better place is there to celebrate this milestone than in the literal cradle of Plott Hound history, Haywood County?
Nor should we forget that while the Plott family is indeed proud of our achievements pertaining to this storied hound, we are also quick to recognize that the Plott breed would likely have remained a regional phenomenon were it not for other friends and associates not related to our family. Folks not only from this region and around the state, but from across the nation as well.
If you or your family is from anywhere in this state, then it is likely that this is your story too, and we want to share that story with you and the integral role that you and your ancestors played in the success of the Plott breed at PlottFest 2024.
If you’ve never seen a Plott dog in action or just want to meet or pet one, here is your chance! Remember, when you touch the face of a Plott dog, you are truly touching the face of North Carolina history.
For more details on PlottFest 2024, go to www.mountainmemoriesroductions.com.
Bob Plott
Haywood County
