One of Asheville’s signature summer events. Press release here:
The celebrated mountain tradition Shindig on the Green, which showcases the region’s rich heritage through its folk musicians and dancers, kicks off its 46th annual season by returning to the heart of downtown Asheville in Pack Square Park. With its first gathering of the summer on Saturday June 30th, this year’s Shindig on the Green will be held on June 30; July 7, 14, 21; August 11, 18, 25; and September 1. Shindig on the Green is free.
Locals and visitors alike come together downtown “along about sundown,” or at 7:00pm for those who wear a watch, to enjoy the stage show and informal jam sessions throughout the park. The stage shows take place on the Bascom Lamar Lunsford stage, named for the founder of the annual Mountain Dance and Folk Festival in Asheville. Highlights include performances by The Stoney Creek Boys, the long-standing house band for Shindig on the Green; newly formed and long-standing bands from throughout the mountains; and an extensive line-up of dance teams.
Prior to the first Shindig on June 30th, the Folk Heritage Committee presents the first ever “Run For Shindig on the Green,” a fun and healthy way to help support Shindig, featuring a 5K Race and Fun Walk/Run. The event takes place Saturday, June 30 at Carrier Park with the Fun Walk/Run beginning at 9:00 a.m. and the 5K beginning at 10:00 a.m. The “Run For Shindig on the Green” is a key element in securing necessary funding for the free and beloved Shindig on the Green summer Saturday evenings in Asheville. Registration is available online until June 9th at www.active.com.
The Folk Heritage Committee produces Shindig on the Green and its sister event, the Mountain Dance and Folk Festival, to support the preservation and continuation of the traditional music, dance and storytelling heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people attend Shindig on the Green evenings for free throughout the summer. In addition to throngs of locals, visitors routinely travel from out of state, across the country, and even around the world to make their way to downtown Asheville for Shindig on the Green.
Shindig on the Green is made possible thanks to the talent and generosity of its volunteer musicians and dancers who span several generations much to the delight of those in attendance. From young children perfecting their square dance steps to great-grandmothers singing ballads passed down through the years, the region’s wealth of traditional talent takes center stage. Since the outdoor event’s inception in 1966, hundreds of thousands of individuals from across the region and throughout the world have shared and enjoyed the rich traditional music and dance heritage of the Southern Appalachian Mountains in this outdoor setting.
Raffle: The much-sought-after annual raffle items for the 2012 Shindig season are: a locally handcrafted guitar by luthier Caleb Smith; and a hand-made, vibrant 90”x90” quilt created by local quilting collaborative, the Mountain Jam Circle. Raffle tickets are available at each Shindig evening and the winning tickets are pulled at the end of the summer Shindig season.
Food: Concessions are offered by Okie Dokies Smokehouse and The Hop Ice Cream Café.
Rules: By city ordinance, dogs, alcohol, and smoking are all prohibited in Pack Square Park.