Read the 2008 Press Release - Click Here

About Home Craft Days

When Mountain Empire Community College opened its doors in southwest, Virginia in 1972, it served one of the richest areas in the nation for traditional music and crafts.

From the beginning, the College recognized the richness of traditional life in the community. On the faculty the first year were two folklorists, Roddy Moore and George Reynolds, who with their students visited musicians and artists throughout southwest, Virginia and learned about their music, arts, and mountain life skills. They invited the folks they met to come to the campus for a celebration of Appalachian culture call Home Craft Days. That first festival in 1972 was one of the finest gatherings of traditional artists and mountain music in memory. There was never any doubt that it should continue, or that it should be part of the College's work in the community.

For pover thirty-four years musicians and craftspeople from southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, and eastern Kentucky have come to Mountain Empire Community College each October for a celebration they have now made their own.

Crafts and demonstrations include weaving, pottery making, grist milling, wood crafting, basket weaving, broom making, quilting, tatting and much more.

Home Craft Days is held each year on the third Saturday and Sunday in October. The 2008 celebration will begin with a concert on Friday, October 17, 2008 in the Goodloe Center on the campus of MECC. Join us for more music and crafts on October 18 and 19 from 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

For more information about Home Craft Days, contact the Office of Continuing Education at Mountain Empire Community College at 276-523-7489 and 276-523-7464, Virginia Relay users dial 711. You may also contact us by email at sboatright@me.vccs.edu