Mountain Heritage Day, Western Carolina University’s 36th annual festival of traditional Southern Appalachian culture, will be held from 10–5 p.m. on Saturday, September 25, on the university’s campus in Cullowhee.

The festival will feature a juried arts and crafts show, demonstrations of authentic mountain folk arts and folk life, two stages of some of the finest traditional music and dance of the region, Cherokee stick- ball, shape-note singing, fun competitions, and plenty of good food.

Speaking of food, residents from throughout the region are invited to enter canned, dried, and baked goods, and honey, pumpkins, and squash in “A Gathering In,” the traditional foods competition held during Mountain Heritage Day. There will also be a recipe contest to highlight the importance of bees and beekeeping. This will include a “Best in the West Honey Recipe” and a contest for extracted honey with categories in light, dark, and comb. “The recipes do not have to be original, but the entries must be made from scratch and must include honey,” says Peter Koch, education associate at WCU’s Mountain Heritage Center.

The foods contest is coordinated jointly by the North Carolina Co-operative Extension Service’s Jackson County Center and the Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University. Ribbons will be award- ed to the top three entries in youth and adult divisions, and a grand champion will be selected from each of the divisions of canned goods, baked goods, heritage foods conservation, honey, and vegetables.

Mountain Heritage Day is held outside, rain or shine, and admission to the festival is free. Pets are not allowed on festival grounds, but service animals are welcome.

For more information, call 828.227.7129 or visit mountainheritage.com. For more about the foods contest and to obtain a contest guideline booklet, call Cheryl Beck at 828.586.4009 or Peter Koch at 828.227.7129.