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An exciting day of activities is planned for the 31st Annual Hiddenite Center Celebration of the ARTS. This unique arts and heritage festival will be held from 9:00am until 4:00pm. Admission is FREE and open to the public.

The theme for this year�s Celebration of the ARTS is �Celebrating North Carolina People.�

In addition to shopping for handcrafted treasures and regional art, the Hiddenite Celebration features hands on Folk Life heritage demonstrations that include butter churning, open fire cookery, weaving, pottery, and more.

Celebration offers four live music stages that include a wide range of performers that will have everyone dancing in the streets. The festival will feature traditional folk music, gospel groups, country music, and popular contemporary music.

Visitors will enjoy numerous live dance performances from local and regional groups. Dance troupes scheduled to perform include, The Emerald Squares, St. Joseph�s Irish Dancers, the Cornfield Cloggers, and All That Dance School of Dance.

As always, Celebration will include fun activities for children of all ages. Both the young and the young at heart will enjoy giant slides, bounce house activities, and face painting.

Each year the Celebration of the ARTS offers the best in delicious festival food vendors and this year is no exception. Numerous food vendors will be on hand to provide a diverse selection of tasty treats.

As a special feature for this year, Celebration will offer Victorian horse and carriage rides that will depart from the Historic Lucas Mansion to tour the majestic scenery. Tickets for carriage rides will be available for sale at the Lucas Mansion throughout the day.

The Lucas Mansion will be open for Museum and Gallery Exhibit tours. The Lucas Mansion Gallery Exhibit for Celebration will feature Carol Whitmore-Herring and the Artists of Trinitykeep Studio. The exhibit continues the theme of �Celebrating North Carolina People� as it concentrates on portraits and includes works inspired by historic buildings and landscapes.

For more information about Hiddenite Center events and programs, please call the Lucas Mansion at (828) 632-6966 or visit www.hiddenitecenter.com Join the Hiddenite Center on facebook by searching Friends of the Hiddenite Center.