GOLD HILL — The 22nd annual Gold Hill Founder’s Day Celebration will be held on Saturday Sept. 24, beginning at 9 a.m. in Gold Hill Mines Historic Park. The Founders’ Day Parade will begin at 10 and entertainment will follow at 11 a.m. Bring your little ones dressed in period costume and enter them in the Little Miss & Mr. Gold Hill Contest. Kids 10 and under are eligible to enter in two age divisions. Categories are 0-5 years and 6-10 years.
This year’s event will include arts and crafts, antique and heritage living displays and demonstrations depicting life from a bygone era. Michael Owens’ booth is always a hit — he will be demonstrating the art of making glass beads. The heritage living exhibit area at the Mining Office site will include blacksmiths, wood carvers, frontier living exhibits, soap making, gold panning, antique tractors, hit and miss engines and more.
Ore crushing demonstrations will be held at the restored Chilean Ore Mill, which is located by the Miller Shaft in the park. The ancient ore mill is thought to be the only original complete mill left from the nineteenth century gold mining era in North Carolina and possibly the United States.
Times for the hayride and history tour to the Powder House will posted at the Post Office Museum in the heritage area. Food vendors will offer a variety of dishes and shops in the Village of Gold Hill will also be open at 9 a.m.
The 63rd North Carolina Troops and The Rowan Rifles will host a Civil War living history encampment on the grounds of the log barn and will also host a Civil War skirmish at 5 p.m. The encampment will offer additional exhibits with the enlisted help of other regional regiments in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
The annual Gold Hill Founder’s Day celebrates the heritage of the town that once was the gold mining capitol of North Carolina and the richest gold mining territory east of the Mississippi. It is now a small community and is home to the 70-acre park and numerous restored shops in the mining village. Gold Hill Mines Historic Park is home to the Barnhardt and Randolph Gold Mines, reputedly the richest and most famous mines from the 19th century gold mining era east of the Mississippi. Its past fame has brought new life to Gold Hill with the production of two gold history documentaries in the works. The escalation in gold market prices has once again brought renewed interest in the famed “Prince of Mines,” as it was known in the 19th century.
For more information about the event, check out www.HistoricGoldHill.com or on Facebook at Historic Gold Hill, North Carolina. Phone 704-267-9439 or 704-279-7897.
Event Schedule:
10 a.m.: Founder’s Day Parade
11 a.m.: Little Miss & Mr. Gold Hill competition, entertainment at amphitheater begins
11:30 a.m.: One Road Home
Noon: Windsong Recorder Ensemble (performing in the Village)
1 p.m.: Windsong Recorder Ensemble at the amphitheater stage
1:30 p.m.: Wayne & Gina Stewart
2:15 p.m.: Montgomery Store Bluegrass Band
3 p.m.: Wayne & Gina Stewart
3:45 p.m.: Midway Bluegrass Band
4 p.m.: Driven by Faith
5 p.m.: Civil War skirmish (Log Barn)
Gold Hill Mines Historic Park is located approximately 14 miles south of Salisbury, at 735 St. Stephens Church Road, Gold Hill, just off US. Hwy. 52.