Heritage is Back
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Heritage is Back
By Shane Gilreath
[email protected]
Between the weather and other unpredictable events, the Scott County Heritage Festival has been hit or miss of late, much of that due to a changed world in the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. That all changed over the weekend, when thousands of visitors joined patrons from across Scott County at the Museum of Scott County to celebrate the beauty and culture of Appalachia. The event, which marks the last Saturday in September, is the hard work of dozens of volunteers and a strong commitment from the community, who gather to demonstrate Appalachian culture and the Museum of Scott County’s role in its preservation.
“We’re ready for all the visitors,” Paula Blakley, an organizer of the event, told SCN late last week. The love and enthusiasm of Blakley, who herself has been a demonstrator, was apparent as she laid out plans for the 2025 extravaganza, which went neither 
unnoticed or unappreciated. It was such dedication that saw this year’s festival make a roaring return for the thousands that it welcomed.
“We’ve got tons of vendors, demonstrators, food, live music, petting zoos, senior citizen quilters, a blacksmith, and lye soap,” Blakley said, as she preparing for vendors to arrive on Friday. “We’re ready and raring to welcome the public!”
The event is supported by students from Scott High, who produce a sizable portion of the event’s volunteer force. Students help from start to finish, including demonstrations of skills they’ve honed in classrooms and projects connected to the museum. Bluegrass musicians, including familiar faces like the Hughett Family and others, provided the traditional live sounds of the region, while many local vendors and organizations set up, showcasing both ability and passion for the betterment of Scott County.
