Blackberry Festival

Each July the Upper Laurel Community and their guests from throughout Madison County and Western North Carolina gather for the grand Blackberry Festival on the grounds of the Ebbs Chapel Community Center.  After the Ebbs Chapel School closed nearly fifty years ago one of the first events for the community held on the grounds was a festival.  Today our summer event celebrates the wonderful blackberry that grows along our roadsides and fences.

A highlight for everyone is to roam around the circle enjoying the art, the crafts, the books, and the homespun skills of Upper Laurel neighbors.  Buy a souvenir or a keepsake that will grace your home for many years.  It’s summer so enjoy the fruits of local gardens.  Take a peek at our list of vendors who support the Center’s activities.  And a rummage sale provides a variety of gently used furniture, decorations, kitchen and household items, and clothing.  Of course, one sure highlight of this festival is the blackberry treats — jam, syrup, pies, and cobbler — locally made the old-time country way.  Take them home and enjoy till next year.

Bring the kids along.  Special activities are planned for them.  And, this year local merchants who support the Community Center have donated prizes for a raffle.  Purchase your tickets to win.  All proceeds go to support Community Center activities.

And it would not be a mountain festival without music.  Whether in person or via recording, the air is filled with the many sounds that enliven mountain living.

Then there is the eating.  A full mountain breakfast is served beginning at 8 AM and of course your pancakes or your grits are topped with blackberry gravy made in the kitchen.  If you sleep in, lunch begins at 11:30 AM and offers a similar menu of mountain cooking.