LocAL NEWS
The Kings Mountain Herald
October 4, 2007
Gateway Festival Saturday in downtown KM
I EMILY WEAVER
i} eweaver@kingsmountainherald.com
Several activities and wide-
spread amusement is set for
Saturday at Kings Mountain's
annual Gateway Festival, from
10 a.m.-5 p.m., downtown.
The Gazebo at Patriot's Park,
as in past year’s, will be the
Gateway to music. “Harvest,” a
Kings Mountain band, will per-
form from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. “The
Merrows,” a Celtic band, will
take the stage from 1 p.m.-2
p.m. followed by the Cute
Critters Competition from 2-
2:30. The Cute Critters cate-
gories this year are: best look-
ing, most unusual color, most
unique, most unusual looking,
and owner look-a-like.
Registration for the free pet
contest will begin at 1 p.m.
Applications will be available
at the Information Booth on the
corner of Railroad Avenue and
Gold Street.
The world-famous bluegrass
group, The Dillards, best
. known as the Darlings on the
Andy Griffith Show will grace
the stage from 2:30-3:15, return-
ing for a final performance
form = 415-5" p.m. “The
Merrows” will give their final
performance from 3:15-4:15.
Over 50 crafters will line
: eweaver@kingsmountainherald.com
The 227th anniversary of the
Battle of Kings Mountain,
which “turned the tides” of
America’s Revolutionary War
will be celebrated at the Kings
Mountain National Military
Park this weekend.
Along the park's wooded
trails, on the mountain terrain
where bullets once exploded
and gunpowder filled the air
on October 7, 1780, reenactors
with the Back Country Militia
and the 84th Highland
Regiment will bring the history
of that famous battle to life
again. The reenactors will be
putting on shows throughout
the weekend, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on
Saturday and Sunday.
Park Ranger Chris Revels
said that after the 225th
anniversary a couple of years
ago, the interest ipseenacting
Railroad Avenue, from the Joy
Performance Center to Patriot's
Park, for this year’s Crafter’s
Alley. The alley is sponsored by
the KM chapter of the
Daughters of the American
Revolution.
Following the route of the
free Lynx Trolley Shuttle, festi-
val-goers ‘can visit any of the
other three festival stops. First
stop is the Kings Mountain
Historical Museum Commons,
where the Carolina Foothills
Historical Reenactment Society
will be encamped. They will be
giving early craft and domestic
skills demonstrations in the
commons, behind the museum.
At 11:30 a.m., “The Log Cabin
Band” will be in concert at the
commons. Baked goods and
refreshments - will be sold
throughout the day.
Next stop is Central United
Methodist Church, where for
$5 people can taste-travel the
country. The Taste of America
fair and bazaar will be held
from 11 am.-2 p.m. in the
church. Tickets for $5 will allow
people to sample ‘Tex-Mex,
New Orleans, Southern and
California style foods. Locally
produced arts, crafts and baked
goods will also be available for
purchase or raffled off.
On the way to stop number
HERALD / FILE
The Dillards, better known as the Darlings on the Andy Griffith Show, will be in concert Saturday
at the gazebo during the annual Gateway Festival.
three, an interpreter on board
the trolley will provide a drive-
by tour of the Central High
School Historical District. The
last oe before heading back to
the Gazebo, is the Kings
Mountain Arts: Center, where
the “Art by the Tracks” juried
competition will be held from
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Food and bever-
ages will be available at the Art
Center, including a new mem-
bers exhibit, Gallery Gift
Shoppe, and a variety of activi-
ties for all ages.
KM anniversary this weekend
has waned a little bit. He added
that all of the reenactors are
volunteers, who often times
have other responsibilities. But
thankfully, the faithful Back
Country Militia will continue
to entertain and inform the
crowds as they have done for
the past several years.
The 84th Highland Regiment
and Back Country Militia will
be camping out at the park over
the weekend, working side-by-
side to keep history alive on the
battleground. From recruiting
new soldiers in their mock
mustering of arms to historical
demonstrations of life during
the Revolutionary War, the
groups will provide a free his-
tory lesson to the park’s many
spectators.
“We expect a big crowd this
weekend,” Revels said, adding
that he just hopes it doesn’t
rain.
A wreath-laying ceremony
will be held on October 7 at 11°
a.m. at the U.S. monument on
top of the mountain.
At 3 p.m. on Sunday, another
group of faithful volunteers -
the Overmountain Victory Trail
Association marchers, will file
into the amphitheater for the
227th anniversary ceremony. In
the early years, the OVTA used
to march the entire 258 mile
path of the Overmountain men.
“Of the 258 miles from
Abingdon, VA to Kings
Mountain, SC, less than 100
miles remain that can be safely
walked because of highway
traffic and speed,” according to
their website at ovta.org. “Over
the years, a ‘reenactment route’
has emerged that offers walk-
ers a chance to get off highways
and into the woods. There are
some 40 miles of off road walk-
ing. Much of that is on the orig-
inal roadbed.
“The marchers come together
at each night's campsite. The
next morning, we march the
Trail on to the next campsite,
shuttle back for our vehicles
and then repeat the process
over again all the way down
the trail.”
United States South Carolina
Congressman John Spratt will
be the guest speaker for
Sunday afternoon’s commemo-
rative ceremony.
The first organized commem-
orative ceremony at the battle-
field was conducted in 1815 by
former patriot surgeon Dr.
William McLean. According to
the National Park Service, U.S.
Department of the Interior,
“After directing the cleanup of
the site, which included
reburying soldiers’ bones
unearthed over the years by
erosion and animals, McLean
dedicated a monument to the
fallen patriot’s and to British
Major Patrick Ferguson. In 1885
about 15, 000 people attended
the battle’s 75th anniversary
celebration. In 1880 a centenni-
al association unveiled a 28-
foot monument.”
In 1909, an 83-foot U.S. mon-
ument was dedicated on the
battlefield and in 1931, after
campaign efforts of the KM
chapter of the Daughters of the
Revolutionary War, the Kings
Mountain National Military
Park was established.
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704-629-2255
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