A dark and sort-of gloomy day was brought back to life with the arrival of Frostburg State University’s 6th Annual Appalachian Festival. This festival is primarily a celebration of western Maryland’s landscape, history and culture. It gives visitors and tourists a chance to experience the origins of the region. After a film festival and other small events on Friday, hundreds of people gathered around in the Upper Quad of the campus on Saturday for a day full of activities. Each year Kara Thomas and her crew put together an amazing festival, celebrating folk music and arts of all kinds. “There’s always something different every year; you can meet a bunch of new people if you just walk around,” says John McGowan, one of the bagpipe performers at the festival. And boy was he right! With everything from musical performances to petting zoos, the Appalachian Festival had much to see. Over 20 performances took place on both days. There were also dance and singing workshops for those interested in learning more about the folk culture. Tons of artists took a space under a big white tent on Saturday to showcase and sell their own art. The art forms included were basket making, pottery, photography, woodcrafts, stained glass, knitting and many more. A favorite among the crowd was Nancy and Avalon Folsbee’s handcrafted jewelry. Later in the evening, there was a highly anticipated concert featuring a renowned Irish group, Buffalo in the Castle. This group puts on an amazing show by combining American and Irish style dancing. As if the entertainment alone weren’t enough to make you have a ball, here comes the food! “I really just came here to eat,” says Erica Minor laughing. More than 10 food vendors set up camp at the festival, many to sell homemade recipes. Kettle corn, assorted chili and Apple Butter and Cider are just a few of the most popular foods of the festival. “Every time I come I make sure I get me a bag of kettle corn, have to,” says Janna Stokes from Alleghany County. When asked what his favorite food of the festival was, Ben Stokes said with a hearty grin, “It has to be the White Chicken Chili. I tried it for the first time about two years ago and now I come back for it every year.” All the foods at the Appalachian festival are traditional, except for the random crab cake stand. When asked about her semi-famous chili, Grace Marshall says, “It’s my mother’s recipe and I bring it here to let people taste it. People always love it.” Can’t argue there. People surrounded Grace’s hot chili table, some to get seconds. As the day went on the spirit of the festival continued to thrive, despite the weather, and everyone seemed to be having a blast. When asked if she would ever return to the Appalachian Festival, Michelle Crockett said, “Of course, how could I not?”
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