Annual Festival Reveres History
The sweet smell of kettle corn and smoke from the blacksmiths’ fires filled the air as over 40 crafters and 100 performers demonstrated their skills and knowledge of the 1800s and before during the 30th Annual Heritage Festival and Craft Show.
Thousands showed up to see authentic crafts, enjoy the weather and watch history come alive during the event on Sept. 15-16, 2007 in Nifong Park.
“Everything is traditional,” Public Information Specialist for Parks and Recreation Tammy Miller said. ”We strive to make it a truly historic festival.”
The festival, which takes place during the third weekend of each September, has grown significantly since its birth in 1977. According to the Parks and Recreation Department, many of the artisans return year after year.
Some of the crafts included handmade jewelry, weaving, candles and pottery. During the festival, the artisans showed how they created their works to make it an interactive experience.
“I am teaching my granddaughters a trade,” said Columbia resident Pat Kelley, who brings her eclectic jewelry to festivals around the area.
With the help of her granddaughters, Kelley picks up beads at the festivals that she visits to design necklaces, earrings and bracelets. Kelley saw an ad in the newspaper to be a vendor at this year’s event and decided to participate.
“I really like this festival,” Kelley said. “It’s my first year, but I definitely want to come back.”
Further recreating history, the department also brought in professional performers. Oral historian Jim Two Crow Wallen presented his knowledge of fur trapping as a mountain man. Wallen has prepared 19 different historical characters and presents an average of 300 performances a year.
“This is all I do for a living,” said Wallen who began performing in 1980.
Wallen, who is part Cherokee, grew up with an appreciation of oral history through his grandfather. He has been to 46 states sharing his love of history, educating both youth and adults.
“Festivals like this bring history alive,” Wallen said. “This is an interactive thing. When you can go inside a tepee and feel it, it brings it to life. People come expecting to see history.”
Even on a MU football weekend, many people showed up to experience history by attending performances, participating in interactive drumming or talking to local artisans.
“It is fun and educational,” Miller said. “The Heritage Festival is really well known in Columbia and is a true tradition.”
(left) Man weaving his loom. (right) Mr. Peddlesworth displaying his unique bicycle collection.