Music & Foodways Day

Join us for the Music & Foodways Day at the Blue Ridge Music Center on Saturday, June 13, from 12:00 – 5:00 p.m., as part of the Fiddle & Fork Festival taking place June 12-14, 2026. This free and public event will celebrate the rich music and foodways of the Blue Ridge Mountains, featuring live music and engaging presentations. Attendees can enjoy Appalachian storytelling with Millie Hiatt, learn about song-keeping and seed-saving with William Ritter, explore beekeeping with Samantha Foxx, and participate in baking and heritage seed preservation with Jamie Swafford and Keia Mastrianni. Cultural demonstrations will include chair caning, shingle splitting, instrument-making, and a ballad swap.

At 3:30 p.m., catch Colin Cutler & Hot Pepper Jam performing a blend of Appalachian old-time, blues, gospel, country, and rock'n'roll in the indoor theater. Delicious homestyle food will be available for purchase from The Bluffs Restaurant on-site throughout the day. Later in the evening, stick around for the Steep Canyon Rangers concert in the outdoor amphitheater at 7:00 p.m. Tickets for the evening show can be purchased online.

Hosted by the Blue Ridge Music Center and The Bluffs Restaurant in collaboration with the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, this event marks the 250th anniversary of the United States while showcasing the cultural landscape of the region. For more details and a full festival schedule, visit fiddleandforkfestival.com.