Volunteers Emma Cadman and Kate McCosh painted the windows of downtown merchants, including the News-Journal, with a Fire on the Mountain theme.
With winter in the rearview mirror and warmer weather settling in, the festival season will soon get underway in Spruce Pine through a pair of downtown events— the annual Fire on the Mountain Blacksmith Festival on Saturday, April 29 and the second annual Downtown Worship event presented by L&L Furniture on Wednesday, May 3.
Fire on the Mountain, Spruce Pine’s annual celebration of blacksmithing, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 29 and will feature live demonstrations, vendors, competitions and other hands-on experiences.
Fire on the Mountain is organized by Spruce Pine Main Street, Toe River Arts and Penland School of Craft.
Rick Smith is the 2023 featured artist and will be joined by demonstrators Lisa Geertsen, Jason Knight, Glenn Gardner and Frankie Flood.
To get in the blacksmithing spirit, a handful of downtown businesses, including the News-Journal, had their windows painted with a festival theme by volunteer artist Emma Cadman and her sister Kate McCosh.
“Painting the windows with my sister was a fun way to get people in the spirit of Fire on the Mountain,” Emma Cadman said.
Just a few days after Fire on the Mountain, it’s Upper Street’s turn to come to life via the Downtown Worship event which will feature live Christian music from local praise bands, local speakers, activities and food and drink vendors.
Kids’ activities will include an obstacle course, wrecking ball, face painting and a slide from FunTime Inflatables. Claudia’s Food Truck, CJ’s BBQ, Pelicans, Sips Soda, Fier It Up and Funtime Inflatables Concessions are slated to sell food and drinks.
Daniel Whetstine will lead a tribute to veterans that will include the National Anthem and the playing of Taps.
The 2022 edition of the Downtown Worship featured a host of preachers and praise bands from area churches.
Organizer Walton Shepherd said the variety is key to making the event special.
“The way I see it is that there are a ton of churches here,” Shepherd said. “We all worship the same savior, which is Jesus.”
For more info, call Shepherd at 400-5146.