HIDDENITE CELEBRATION 2004 was one of the
MOST SUCCESSFUL EVER!

Date: September 25, 2004
Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Place: Streets of Hiddenite, NC
An entire week of activities peaked with a day of Celebrating on Saturday, September 25. The festivities began at 9:00 am and concluded around 4:00 pm.
Read more details about the 2004 Hiddenite Celebration below.

The Hiddenite Center's twenty-third annual Hiddenite Celebration of the ARTS is now history, and what a rousing success the entire event was! Thousands of people turned out to enjoy the preliminary events and the annual day-long street festival which was a huge success. The weather on Saturday was a beautiful sun shiny day! As the day progressed, it even became a little warm for this special day of fun and celebration. The entire community enjoyed the annual event and spent quality time with their friends and family.

This year's Celebration kicked-off with the annual Square Dance hosted by the Emerald Squares at the Center's Educational Complex on Saturday evening, September 18.

On Monday, September 20 Solazo, an unique musical group who showcase music from Latin America, performed at Ellendale Elementary School and Alexander Central High School. Students, faculty, and staff were provided with an overview of Latin instruments and musical styles, then the group showed their own creativity by taking the traditional elements of their heritage and blended it with their own unique musical style. The appreciative audiences were thrilled by what they heard.

On Tuesday morning, September 21 the Celebration moved into high gear with the Senior Adult Day. The wonderful Snappy Tappers from Winston-Salem provided a morning of rousing entertainment. This group of tap dancing SENIOR ADULTS were amazing, and many in the audience commented that they'd love to "trip the light fantastic" on their own. The large group of Seniors enjoyed games, meeting folks, entertainment, and lunch.

Thursday evening, September 23 brought to the Hiddenite Center's stage an evening of laughter and fun. "Open Mike" - a storytelling duo consisting of Mike Lowe and Mike Campbell charmed the audience with tales of fact and fiction! The only problem was determining which stories were fact and which were fiction! Mike and Mike are no strangers to the Center's audiences, and they did their usual outstanding program for the appreciative audience. Those present enjoyed homemade subs and lots of fun throughout the entire evening.

This year's climatic day was blessed with perfect weather, and more than ninety artists and craftspersons brought their wares for an enthusiastic and eager audience. More than a dozen food vendors satisfied the hunger pains of the unusually large crowd in attendance at this year's event. Some forty folk demonstrations and four full stages of entertainment made the day one to remember! The day was strong - beginning to end! This year's attendance was one of the largest audiences in Celebration history. "We strive to do quality programming to serve our public, and the Center's staff is extremely pleased with the overall quality and thrust of this year's edition of the Celebration," remarked dwaine coley. "With a wonderful staff who plans every detail, the day was picture perfect. We must say thank you to the host of folks who freely
give of their time and energy to make the day possible - those who hosted in the
museum, manned the doors, tended the welcome booth, provided music and stories
on the stages, served cold drinks, provided for the needs of others, and labored (and I mean labored) to set up and clean up. Thank you, volunteers!"

"I must tip my hat to the Center's staff, Karen Walker, Allison Houchins, Linda Sherrill, and our support staff and volunteers of Elmeta Adams, Connie Millsaps, Wayne Shook, Rickey Mitchell, Brenna Houchins, Nancy Coley. These wonderful volunteers helped with teardown, which was laborous to say the least - Stuart McLain, Glenn Fox, Jake Lowman, and Adam's Funeral Home staff Mark Odom, Glenn Mays, Stan Durmire, and John Jarrell. A host of volunteers and cooperative community folks guarantee the success of this annual venture," commented the Center's Executive Director. "Without groups like the Emerald Squares and the wonderful RA's and GA's and their leaders from Sulphur Springs Baptist Church we would not attempt such a massive undertaking. Thanks too to good community residents who graciously cooperate with the activities and a wonderful host of volunteers who rally to make the day memorable for everyone. The Center is deeply grateful to all who participate and work to make things happen."

The participation of numerous artists and craftspersons made the day most enjoyable for the entire region. Special presentations of North Carolina heritage arts made the day unique and special. Visitors from surrounding areas particularly commented on the unique nature of these special exhibitors and artists.

"The Hiddenite Celebration of the ARTS is put away for another year, but the planning and evaluation have begun for next year's festivities. Next year will celebrate the Center's twenty-fourth anniversary, so plans are already underway. The Center welcomes input from participants and visitors," concluded the Center's Executive Director.

The Hiddenite Celebration of the ARTS was made possible in part through the generous funding of the Alexander County government, North Carolina Arts Council's General Support and Grassroots grants, the R. Y. and Eileen Lackey Sharpe Family Foundation, the Western Arts Agencies of North Carolina, the Catawba Valley Community Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. The Center is most appreciative of the businesses and individuals who support the Celebration through the annual tabloid. These funds bear some of the Center's expenses for the set up and staging of the festival. Also special thanks to Sipe's Lumber and Mountain View Farms.