Since 1973, Mountain Heritage Day has claimed the last Saturday in September to revel in the culture of Southern Appalachia folk life on Western Carolina University's campus in Cullowhee.

Rain or shine, on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009, it's Appalachian time as Western Carolina University celebrates 35 years of the region's mountain heritage.

Combining the feel of an old-fashioned mountain fair with Southern Appalachian folk arts, Mountain Heritage Day draws over 25,000 visitors each year.

With over 140 arts and craft booths, the festival provides demonstrations and exhibitions of traditional mountain skills including pottery-making, blacksmithing and woodcarving.

Booths of traditional mountain food will entice visitors' senses with ham biscuits, cider, lemonade, barbecue chicken, Cherokee fry bread, peanuts, popcorn, beans, cornbread, and the like.

Free hayrides to the Mountain Heritage Center, located on the ground floor of the H.F. Robinson Administration Building, will transport visitors between the festival site and the heritage center.

The festival features traditional mountain music and dance kicked off with clogging, fiddles and banjo music.

Cherokee warriors re-creating authentic Cherokee dances will be presented as well as hands-on children's activities focused on the mountain culture.

The festival offers several competitions including a 1-mile Fun Run for children, 5-K footrace, woodcutting contest, antique auto show, costume contests for children and adults as well as a beard and moustache contest for men.

Admission is free and the festival begins around 8 a.m. and winds down around 5 p.m.

For more information about Mountain Heritage Day, call 828.227.3193 or visit www.mountainheritageday.com.