Blackberry Festival

Ebbs Chapel
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 over fifty years ago, one of the first community events 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. And a rummage sale provides a variety of gently used furniture, decorations, kitchen and household items. 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. Also fun for the kids including the popular bounce house and a visit by the Ebbs Chapel Volunteer Firefighters. And how about a cool treat on a summer afternoon from the kids' lemonade stand.

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 prepared and served by our own cook crew featuring homemade biscuits or your grits are topped with blackberry gravy made in the kitchen. If you sleep in, lunch offers a similar menu of mountain cooking.

For those who enjoy a game of chance with good rewards, how about buying tickets to the Festival Raffle?

Why not sell your art, crafts, books, garden produce, or home cooked goods as a vendor at the Blackberry Festival? Fill out and forward the vendor agreement. For more information call 828-206-0865.

Also consider donating your gently used items to the Rummage Sale. All proceeds go to the benefit of Ebbs Chapel Community Center.