Sourwood Festival comes back to downtown Black Mountain

A return as sweet as honey

Fred McCormick
The Valley Echo
August 14, 2021

The Sourwood Festival is back.

The annual summer tradition, organized by the Black Mountain-Swannanoa Chamber of Commerce since 1977, returned to downtown Black Mountain for its 43rd year, Aug. 14. The two-day craft fair runs through 5 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 15.

Approximately 100 vendors set up tents along Sutton Avenue, Black Mountain Avenue and the parking lot of SunTrust Bank, while live music, a petting zoo and miniature pony rides assembled behind the Black Mountain Natural Foods. A booth featuring information about bees, which make the popular honey from which the festival takes its name, is located at the intersection of Cherry Street and Sutton Avenue.

A traditional Appalachian craft demonstration and acoustic musical performances were held in Town Square on Saturday, when the festival will remain open until 8 p.m. Carnival rides and games are open in the public parking lot on the south side of the railroad tracks along Sutton Avenue.

Parking is available in the former Bi Lo parking lot on N.C. 9 and in the Town of Black Mountain parking lot on Terry Estate Drive.

Vendors will reopen at 9 a.m. on Sunday, the final day of the two-day festival.

Pictures of the 2021 Sourwood Festival can be found in the gallery below.