Hagood Mill Historic Site

Old-Time musicians near and far come to the Hagood Mill Historic Site to compete in this official State-sanctioned two-day event. In addition to fiddle, competitions are held in guitar, banjo, wildcat, and old-time string band in both youth and adult divisions. The SC State Fiddling Championship will take place on Saturday, September 21, starting at 9:15 am. The competition has run as late as 8 pm in the past, so please plan accordingly. Registration fees, prize money, and other information are outlined on our website, along with competition rules. Each registered competitor will receive one free general admission ticket to Saturday’s event. 
In addition to the State Championship on Saturday, a Friday night concert will be held in the Heritage Pavilion starting at 7 p.m. Dan Wood &amp; Andy Brooks will be showcasing their new CD. Dan Gellert, Henry Barnes, &amp; Ali Kafka along with The Alum Ridge Boys &amp; Ashlee will also be performing. Saturday night, after the Championship, The Wilder Flower will be hosting their Album Release Party at 8 p.m. followed by a performance from Billy Hurt &amp; Five Mile Mountain Road.
Ticket pricing for this event is as follows:
Weekend Camping Package (Friday-Sunday) – includes 2 camping tickets and 2 tickets for Friday and Saturday night concerts + general admission to the State Fiddling Competition - $60
Camping Only (1 night or both nights) - $10/person
Friday or Saturday concert tickets only* - $10 each
Saturday Competition tickets only* - $5
*Children 9 &amp; under are free
Hagood Mill will be in operation throughout the day so make sure to purchase fresh stone ground products while you’re on site. There will also be living history demonstrators and artisan vendors. We will also have food trucks on site. As always, we encourage visitors to bring lawn chairs or blankets for the show. Visitors are also welcome to bring their favorite old-time instruments and join in the “open jam” which typically takes place throughout the day under the ancient cedar beside our beloved 1791 log cabin. 
Volunteer opportunities are available for Friday and Saturday. Those who work one four-hour shift will receive same day admission and one meal at the hospitality tent. Spaces are limited and volunteers are encouraged to register early. Contact Kim Clevenger (<a href="mailto:hagoodmillfoundaton@gmail.com">hagoodmillfoundaton@gmail.com</a>) if you are interested in volunteering. If volunteers would like to camp for the weekend, they will be required to purchase camping passes. 
For all information, please check the website <a href="https://www.visithagoodmill.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.visithagoodmill.com</a>.

Local Event: 2024 South Carolina Old Time Fiddler's Convention & State Competition

Easley

South Carolina

2024 South Carolina Old Time Fiddler's...

Saturday September 21, 2024: Old-Time musicians near and far come to the Hagood Mill Historic Site to compete in this official State-sanctioned...

2024 South Carolina Old Time Fiddler's Convention & State Competition

Hagood Mill Historic Site, 138 Hagood Mill Rd, Pickens, SC, 29671

Each October, the hills and hollers around the Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens, South Carolina, come alive with storytellers sharing the weird and wonderful, mountain funnies, memories of yesteryear, and tales of mystical places in Appalachia.
To kick off this year's Storytelling Festival &amp; Liar's Competition, the Hagood Mill Historic Site will host Friday Night Frights &amp; Ghost Stories on Friday, October 18th, at 6:30 p.m. Julie Bradshaw, Johnny Thomas Fowler, Tara Porter, Lance Smith, and Jess Willis will share their best ghost stories that are sure to scare one and all. Admission is $10 for those 10 and older on Friday.

Local Event: Friday Night Frights & Ghost Stories

Friday Night Frights & Ghost Stories

Friday October 18, 2024: Each October, the hills and hollers around the Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens, South Carolina, come alive with...

Each October, the hills and hollers around the Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens, South Carolina, come alive with storytellers sharing the weird and wonderful, mountain funnies, memories of yesteryear, and tales of mystical places in Appalachia.
This year's event will kick off on Friday, October 18th, at 6:30 p.m. with Friday Night Frights &amp; Ghost Stories. Julie Bradshaw, Johnny Thomas Fowler, Tara Porter, Lance Smith, and Jess Willis will share their best ghost stories that are sure to scare one and all. Admission is $10 for those 10 and older on Friday.
On Saturday, October 19th, the Storytelling Festival will be featuring some fantastic storytellers. Michael Reno Harrell, Jess Willis, Julie Bradshaw, Tara Porter, Johnny Thomas Fowler, and the feature storyteller, Sheila Arnold. Sheila is co-founder and former Artistic Director of Artists Standing Strong Together (ASST), a source of inspiration, strength and action in the storytelling and artists world. She has been honored as a 2021 MacDowell Artist Fellow, a 2020 Mt. Vernon Research Fellow and a 2019 Hewnoaks Artist Colony summer residence Noted Artist. Sheila lives in Hampton, VA near her son, grandsons, and parents. 
Michael Reno Harrell’s natural knack for storytelling comes as a direct result of where he is from, the Southern Appalachian Mountains where storytelling is as much a part of the culture as its music. His original stories and songs intertwine seamlessly into narratives that demonstrate that we all share common emotions and experiences and that nothing brings us together like a good laugh or a touch of nostalgia. Michael’s stories, songs and artworks reflect not only the southern experience, but also American’s story. His work, in whichever form it may take, all comes down to one thing...story.
Jess Willis grew up in the small town of Saluda nestled amongst the hills of the SC piedmont. Born into a family of readers and storytellers, her imagination was well fertilized before she even began to talk. She learned that life is a very great adventure and that stories are the roadmaps and love letters we leave for one another along the way. She is a homegrown spoken word artist with a big mouth and bigger imagination whose love of storytelling is only eclipsed by her love of listening. 
Julie Bradshaw is a natural born storyteller who has shared stories at St. Simons Storytelling Festival, Stone Soup Storytelling Festival, the Women’s Storytelling Festival, the Florida Storytelling Festival, Six Feet Apart Productions and Better Said than Done. In April 2024, she was a Featured Teller at the Stone Soup Storytelling Festival. She tells a wide range of stories, including personal stories, folk and fairy tales, tall tales, and historical biographies. 
The winner of the 2023 Liar’s Competition, and back to share more colorful stories is Tara Porter. Born and raised in northern Pickens County, she is part of a family whose roots stretch back over 200 years. The Porters are known for their storytelling, music, and colorful personalities, making them a cherished part of the local culture. Their tales and tunes have echoed through the community for generations, blending history, humor, and a touch of the extraordinary.
Johnny Thomas Fowler will be telling stories and emceeing the event. He is one of seventeen national storytellers captured in the book Southern Appalachian Storytellers (McFarland Press). In 2013 John was honored to receive the prestigious Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award, the highest award given to folk artists in South Carolina. He co-hosts a weekly old-time radio show on North Carolina public radio station WNCW-FM.
Lance Smith is a teacher, pastor, father and musician. He has always known the power of a good story and lives to keep the tradition alive. Lance loves mountain tales about “Jack” and native stories as well as tales from cultures all around the world. He has been known to tell stories around campfires, schools, churches, festivals and function throughout
WNC and the Upstate. He lives at the foot of White Oak Mountain in Columbus, NC.
The Liar's Competition will also take place on Saturday. There are spots for 8 competitors to share their best “lies” and be crowned with the title of “Best Liar”. The winner will take home a grand prize of $75 and a guaranteed slot on the storytelling stage for the event in 2024. 
Visitors will also find the Hagood Mill in operation, living history demonstrators, arts and crafts and food vendors on site. Visitors are encouraged to bring chairs or a blanket. The show will begin at 10 am and will include ASL interpreters for our deaf and hard of hearing visitors.
There promises to be lots to do and lots of fun! Admission is $5.00 per person aged 10 and up. Children 9 and under are free and there are no parking fees. Admission includes entrance to the Hagood Mill Historic Site as well as the Heritage Pavilion and Hagood Creek Petroglyph Site.

Local Event: Storytelling Festival & Liar's Competition

Storytelling Festival & Liar's Competition

Saturday October 19, 2024: Each October, the hills and hollers around the Hagood Mill Historic Site in Pickens, South Carolina, come alive with...

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Saturday, September 21

Local Event

2024 South Carolina Old Time Fiddler's Convention & State Competition

Friday, October 18

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Friday Night Frights & Ghost Stories

Saturday, October 19

Local Event

Storytelling Festival & Liar's Competition

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