AEC

APPALACHIAN REGIONAL STUDIES AT RADFORD UNIVERSITY

AEC

Events

APPALACHIAN EVENTS COMMITTEE

The Appalachian Events Committee (AEC) is made up of Radford University students, faculty, and staff members who are interested in the Appalachian region, its history, culture, and preservation. Radford University is located in an area rich with the heritage, customs, folklore and history of Appalachia and its people. The AEC welcomes those who are already familiar with Appalachia, as well as those who want to learn more about the region in which they are now living.

Each year the Appalachian Events Committee sponsors a number of events on campus that are open to the RU community as well as to the general public. AEC members also attend seminars, concerts, and conventions that feature Appalachia and its people.

To become involved with AEC just attend one of our meetings. Meetings are currently held on Wednesday afternoons at 5:30 in the Buchanan House in Room 207. If you would like to be placed on our mailing list, contact the Appalachian Regional Studies Center at (540) 831-5366 or email aec@radford.com directly for more information.

AEC EVENTS

APPALACHIAN FOLK ARTS FESTIVAL

Each year the Appalachian Events Committee of Radford University hosts the Folk Arts Festival. This festival is a one day event which features crafters from throughout the region. It is held at Radford University on the Heth lawn and often coincides with Radford University's Family Fall Festival Events.
	Crafters from various localities, with various talents join us each year. Each represents and demonstrates some craft that has been practiced in Appalachia in the past, and in many instances continues today. Some example of our crafters are blacksmithing, pottery makers, quilters, a pencil artist, beekeepers, a basket weaver, a maker of cornhusk dolls, instrument makers, and more. In an attempt to familiarize Festival-goers and keep variety in our program, we often rotate crafters from year to year so one is sure to always find something different. Crafters have stationary displays as well as items for sale.
In addition to crafters, we bring several performers to the Festival each year. Like our crafters, these performers have a wide range of talents. For musical performances, we've had traditional Old-time, Celtic, and Bluegrass bands. Each band brings its own style and everyone is bound to find something they like. Storytelling is also a featured event during some festivals. We've been proud to feature the Radford University Cloggers each year performing a highly-charged precision dance routine during the day's events.
	Near the middle of the day during each Festival, the Appalachian Events Committee has an auction. Auctioned off are items from each of the crafters and occasionally included are CD's and T-shirts from the performers. The proceeds from this auction are put into the Glenn and Cora Toney Memorial Scholarship.

Click here to see this year's line-up of performers and crafters for the annual Appalachian Folk Arts Festival, October 2006.

APPALACHIAN AWARENESS DAY

AEC hosts Appalachian Awareness Day each year. Usually in February or early March, this event is a day full of Appalachian entertainment. In the past there have been storytellers, authors, poets, T-shirts, and of course musicians. The day starts early and performers are scheduled approximately for each hour. AEC traditionally reserves one hour for RU's Own. This is when Radford's talent is showcased and both professors and students perform. The day promises something entertaining for everyone, bringing in an audience mixed with faculty, students, and the local community. AAD usually ends with a night of music. Various bands have performed and the music and dancing can last for hours.

SPRING CONCERT

In addition to Appalachian Awareness Day and the Folk Arts Festival, AEC sponsors a concert every year. These have generally featured bluegrass or traditional music, but each year there is a new and different sound. Doc Watson, The Tony Rice Unit, Blue Highway, Mike Seeger, Nickel Creek and others have all played at Radford to near sellout crowds. The money raised from this event goes back into helping sponsor other campus events and the next year's concert.

RETURN TO MAIN ARSC PAGE