By Verna Townson
Guest Writer
From Sunday-Saturday, Aug. 17-23 the John C. Campbell Folk School is thrilled to welcome iconic Appalachian women for Appalachian Heritage Week featuring presentations by local author and YouTube phenomenon Tipper Pressley, founder of Celebrating Appalachia. Enjoy musical performances and storytelling by seventh-generation ballad singer Sheila Kay Adams and eighth-generation ballad singer Donna Ray Norton, both from Madison County.
At 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18 a concert with Adams and Norton will kick off the week in the festival barn. A donation of $5-15 per adult is suggested, but all are welcome regardless of contribution.
In the Keith House Community Room at 4:45 p.m. from Tuesday-Thursday, Aug. 19-21, a series of presentations will be held with Pressley:
Tuesday, Pressley will begin with presenting "The Rich Colorful Language of Appalachia.”
Wednesday, she will continue her series with, “Using the Internet to Preserve & Celebrate Appalachian Culture.” Following the presentation at 7 p.m., Storytelling with Kanute Rarey and Friends will be held in the community room for an evening of Appalachian Tales. Thursday, Pressley concludes her week of presentations with “My Life in Appalachia and Connections to the Folk School.”
At 7:45 a.m. Friday, Aug. 22, Morningsong, with Adams and Norton will fill the Keith House Community Room and our Facebook livestream with beautiful Appalachian tunes. All events are free and open to the public. Sign up for a class to immerse yourself in the experience for the full week or attend individual events as your schedule allows. Learn more about the presenters and register for a class: https://www.folkschool.org/2025/07/15/join-us-in-celebrating-appalachian-culture/.