The Byron Reece Farm and Heritage Center — located just north of Vogel State Park near Blairsville, GA, on Route 129 — concludes its 2013 season on the weekend of November 30th through December 1st.
In celebration of an outstanding year — and in anticipation of the seasons of Advent and Christmas — an Open House will be observed from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday and 1:00 to 5:00 PM on Sunday.
There will be no charge for admission to the exhibits on either of those days. Light refreshments will be served. Craft activities for children will be available.
Drawings for door prizes provided by consignors and others will occur at 4:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. Your presence at the drawings is not required, but you must come to the Welcome Center to receive a ticket and register.
Weather permitting, musical presentations and singing will be conducted in the pavilion.
Several local authors of books or CDs in the Gift Shop will be present for signings on Saturday the 30th from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.
These include:
- Johnny Carter and his Uncle Remus Tales CD
- Ann Douglas and her children’s book, Purple Frogs and Pumpkin Seeds
- Deuce Douglas and his poetry chapbook, Marshmallow Staircase
- Jackie Elsner and her CD “Ballad of the Bones,” featuring 20 Reece poems set to old ballad tunes and sung a cappella
- Silvia Fontaine signing her novel, Mountain Tribulations
- Emory Jones, who will sign for his book, Zipping Through Georgia…On a Goat-Powered Time Machine with Ludlow Porch and a Parrot Named Pete
- Ethelene Dyer Jones and her book of poems co-authored by her son Keith, Mother and Child Reunion
- Sylvia Dyer Turnage, signing her illustrated booklet, The Choestoe Story, as well her CD, “Clark Dyer’s Flying Machine” and
- Eva Nell Wike with her book about the life and times of her Uncle Johnny Mull: Fiddler of the Mountains.
Persons seeking gifts for Christmas will find discounts on selected items. The Gift Shop is well stocked with all kinds of craft items: handmade/homemade furniture, baskets, jewelry, Alpaca scarves, hats, and socks, kitchen towels, ornaments, pottery (functional and ornamental), wood-turned bowls, pens, soap, cushions, etc.
In addition, there are numerous clothing items featuring the Reece Society logo, such as caps, denim shirts, T-shirts, and pull-over shirts.
All of Reece’s books and those about Reece are available, as well as a wide selection of books by local and regional authors and books especially related to Appalachia, such as Cherokee Indian literature.
Come and enjoy the Byron Reece Open House for the displays … along with an abundance of joy and good will.
