The City of Kings Mountain will host the annual “Gateway Festival” on Saturday, October 9 from 10:00AM until 6:00PM throughout the downtown area. This community event is a celebration of Kings Mountain being designated, in 2000, as “The Gateway City” by the Department of Interior and the National Park Service to all three area parks - Crowder’s Mountain State Park, Kings Mountain State Park and Kings Mountain National Military Park.
This annual Kings Mountain fall festival highlights the history of the victorious battle site (which Thomas Jefferson declared, “... the turning point of the Revolutionary War”) with a reenactment of British and Patriots in a cannon battle and a living history encampment showcasing the Colonial period. Bluegrass, Folk, Celtic and Country/Americana music will fill the air from the Gazebo at Patriots Park, downtown.
“Crafter’s Alley”, with a variety of art and craft vendors, will be located on Railroad Avenue and, just around the corner on Gold Street, will be a Classic car show. Patriots Park will have a variety of food vendors and the perennial favorite “Cute Critters Competition”, a pet beauty contest, will take place at the Gazebo. With a theme of “Putting Power in our Hands”, the City Electric Department will celebrate Public Power Week with a customer appreciation exhibit at Patriots Park featuring educational information, games and prizes. There will be a Lineman’s Rodeo and Mayor Rick Murphrey will be competing in a simulated emergency power operation at the site in Patriots Park. An American Cornhole Association (ACA) sanctioned championship will be held in the afternoon with a morning local tournament.
At the Kings Mountain Historical Museum, Revolutionary War re-enactors with the South Fork Militia, the Fort Davidson Militia, the Charleston and 4th S.C. Artilleries will encamp, share living history through demonstrations and conduct tours of the Barber Log House and the Cornwell Home on the Commons behind the Museum. Inside at the Museum will be “Honor Our Veterans – Remembering World War II” exhibit. Central United Methodist will open the Christian Activity Center until 3:00 pm and will host a Souper Saturday lunch, craft and baked goods sale.
The Southern Arts Society will host the annual art competition, “Gateways to the South”, relating to Southern history and culture with an exhibit at the Kings Mountain Art Depot.
The “Mountaineer Trolley” will run continuously during the festival between the Gazebo at Patriots Park, the Kings Mountain Historical Museum and Commons, Central United Methodist Church and cruise through the Central School Historic District to the Kings Mountain Art Depot and back to the Gazebo. Free parking is available at all trolley stop venues and downtown parking lots. An information booth will be located at the corner of Railroad and Gold Streets.
For a complete schedule of events and additional information visit www.cityofkm.com or call 704-734-0333. |
