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Rich in history, the festival includes traditional Cherokee heritage demonstrations such as basket weaving, stone carving and mask making, stickball games, and homemade fry bread, a festival favorite.

Davy Arch, a member of the EBCI and Cherokee mask maker, storyteller and stone carver, has been involved with MHD since he was a teenager working at the Oconaluftee Indian Village. “My whole family lived with my grandparents, so I was surrounded by artists my whole life,” Arch said. “My earliest memories include having a knife in hand and carving something. In high school, I worked a few jobs but realized I could make more money with my artwork, so that is how I supplemented my income. I went to the first Mountain Heritage Day, and it became a regular thing, so I have continued to do demonstrations, usually having a few projects going on at once.”

Arch learned to carve masks from elder mask maker Sim Jessan at the Oconaluftee Indian Village. He has carved masks from buckeye wood, cherry, pine and walnut. In addition to creating works of art, Arch has served on the Qualla Arts and Crafts Mutual board of directors and as an education director for the organization. “I remember being at the first festival. There were around 20 vendors and demonstrators,” Arch said. “The next year, it doubled. It has continued to grow ever since and is the real deal when showcasing mountain ways of life - the music, the people and the traditions.” Arch fondly remembers earlier festival demonstrations, such as the moonshine stills and blacksmithing. “I remember bringing my mother and my grandmother; they always loved coming to Mountain Heritage Day and seeing the demonstrations, especially the stills and the blacksmithing,” he said. “When the festival was in the earlier years, it was bumper-to-bumper trying to get around to the different areas on campus to see everything. It has been awesome to see so many people here to celebrate mountain culture for all these years.” Like Arch, from musical performances to tractor rides and heritage demonstrations, families make the festival an annual tradition, much like a family reunion.

Simone Nichols Pace understands the family's involvement in the festival very well. Her father, Bill Nichols, known as the “grandfather of modern clogging,” emceed the event for more than 40 years until his death in 2018. Pace, an award-winning dancer and instructor, has been involved with the festival since she was a child, helping as an emcee, giving clogging demonstrations or lending a hand where needed. “My dad taught Dr. (Eva) Adcock, one of the festival’s founders, how to clog,” Pace said. “He would come to Ģ������Ƶto teach the professors clogging and started a team for children from the Camp Lab School, mostly children of Ģ������Ƶemployees. This connection is what led to his involvement with the festival. My family has been very involved since the beginning. It allowed us to be together, especially when my dad got older and needed us there as he became more fragile. After his death, I emceed for a few years and have continued to be involved with clogging demonstrations.” Other families that have been involved with the festival include the Darnell family, who own Darnell Farms, a second-generation family farm located in Bryson City, which was also heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. Even though they were facing their own losses, Darnell Farms quickly became a donation and distribution site to help fellow community members.

This is why this family-owned farm is a beloved staple in the region. The Darnells have been coming to the festival for many years, despite their busy harvest season, to give back to the community through wagon rides on the back of a classic tractor at the festival.

Nate Darnell, affectionately known as “Nate the Farmer,” now runs the family farm with his sister, Afton Roberts. “My dad started the tractor rides at Mountain Heritage Day, but he is a man with several irons in the fire at any given time,” Darnell said. “September is a hectic time on the farm, so after a few years, he passed the torch to me to continue the tractor rides at the festival, which I look forward to every year. In the first year, I had to borrow a tractor, and the muffler was broken, so it was really loud, but the crowd seemed to enjoy it. Ever since then, I have always made sure to bring a classic old tractor. Now, we bring one that is quieter but still has the iconic sound.” Darnell says the most rewarding part of driving the tractor is seeing the happiness it brings. “It is such an amazing experience to see a young person, whether five years old or a college student, get excited to go on a wagon ride. Getting to be part of bringing people happiness is what it is all about,” Darnell said. “It doesn't matter if I have had a good or bad year, I will not miss Mountain Heritage Day. I get so excited seeing the Cherokee stickball games, the crafts, the folk music, and knowing I am just a tiny part over here, goofing off and having a great time, which is amazing,” he said.

While the performers, vendors and demonstrators are the focus of MHD, behind the scenes, dedicated Ģ������Ƶemployees, students and volunteers spend months planning the festival and show up the day of from dark to dark, ensuring the festival runs smoothly.

One of those dedicated employees is Peter Koch, an education associate for WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center. Koch has been integral to the festival's success for nearly 30 years. Every year, you’ll find Koch around the intramural fields at Ģ������Ƶin his faded red Mountain Heritage Day suspenders. “There are probably only a few pairs of suspenders floating around,” Koch said. “I started in 1998 and inherited mine from Tyler Blethen, who once directed the Mountain Heritage Center. I also enjoy working on the programming committee to bring the best of Southern Appalachia to Cullowhee each year.” The hard work and dedication of staff, volunteers, demonstrators, and vendors, combined with the continued support of the regional community, will keep the core of mountain heritage alive for many years to come.