By Eunice Contreras, ENGL 336.001
On September 17th Frostburg State University’s second day of the sixth annual Appalachian Festival was held in the upper quad to celebrate all the history that the area holds. Joyful music and the smells of hot dogs, crab cakes chili and more filled the air while approaching the event. People of all ages walked around interested to watch the bands, play with goats and even buy a unique souvenir like a glass or clay bowl.
Many activities were around at the festival to catch one’s eye. Looking around a group of five girls including Frostburg’s own student, Megan White, were wearing dance attire waiting anxiously to jump on stage. White had a few moments to explain her part in the Appalachian Festival before she had to take the stage.
“My dance school was invited to perform here a few weeks ago,” said White excitedly. She was invited to this Frostburg event with her dance school called the New Century Irish American Art Company. The company is based out of Silver Spring, Maryland and is involved in many events such as the festival. White and her dance company were going to be performing an Irish dance accompanied by two musicians. Peter Brice, who is the co-founder of the Dance Company and Zan McLeod. The girls went on stage to perform an Irish dance to fit the history of the day. “It took practice, but I think we did really well and I enjoyed having a part of this with my dance school,” said White after her performance.
White also was going to go on to perform with her dance crew, Brice and McLeod at the Buffalo in the Castle concert that night.
Aside from the Irish dance, the festival brought out many personas like David Zaladonis that brought his own small crowd to see why he was dressed in old time clothing pieces. Zaladonis was standing in front of a tent filled with many different guns and hunting tools. “This is called my Hunter’s Camp…I would leave the settlement and go into the wood for two or three days to hunt and kill deer,” said Zaladonis. He also explained that this was his fourth time being invited back to the Appalachian Festival.
Zaladonis was just one of the many personas and acts that joined the festival. A puppet show caught the eye of the kids running around at the event called Horn’s Punch and Judy Show. He lightened up the day for the kids and their parents with magic, jokes and puppets. “Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain,” said Horn as he started his show.
The Appalachian Festival has many things for anyone to come learn about the Maryland’s history and have an entertaining time as well.
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