By Vivian Hopkins

For the Salisbury Post

The small community of Gold Hill continues its year-long bicentennial celebration with the annual Founder’s Day on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Gold Hill Mines Historic Park and Village of Gold Hill. This year, the community is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the first gold discovery at Gold Hill.

Visitors are invited to join in for a great festival of arts, crafts, music and more. Come celebrate the history and culture of the once famous gold mining boom town.

The Founders Day celebration will kick off Friday evening at 7 p.m. at the park amphitheater with the Little Miss & Mr. Gold Hill Pageant organized by Regina Poplin & Elite Southern Charms.  Saturday’s activities will begin in the park and village at 9 a.m. The annual parade will start at 10 a.m. followed by, hayrides, self-guided history tours, antique hit and miss engines, blacksmithing, music and more. The celebration will also include heritage living and military history encampments. 

Chilean Ore Mill
Of special interest at this year’s event will be the rare demonstrations of crushing gold ore at the 1830s Chilean Ore Mill located at the Miller Gold Mine Shaft exhibit area in the park. The mill is thought to be the only “complete and original” Chilean Ore Mill in the U.S. and was used extensively here at Gold Hill from the 1830s into the early 1900s.

There’s lots of activities scheduled for the whole family throughout the park, including over 100 artisans and craft vendors, rope making opportunities, gold panning and gem and minerals exhibits. Gold panning will be provided by the staff of Reed Gold Mine, N.C. State Historic Site. Visit the military living history encampment with scheduled history talks and discussions. A dozen or more food vendors and food trucks will be on hand in the park to feed the hungry. 

Gold Hill village shops and restaurant
In the village, Flynn’s Village Grill will be open for those needing a great sit-in meal and respite from the day’s activities and Flynn’s Hotdog Cart will also be open outside at the restaurant. Backstreet Mercantile Pizza Shop will be offering wood-fired pizza and desserts. Montgomery General Store will offer hand-dipped ice cream, sweets and sodas, throughout the day. The bakery in the village will offer delectable baked items. All of the village shops will be open throughout the day for more shopping opportunities. Music, food and games will also be available on the front lawn of Gold Hill Methodist Church.

Bring a lawn chair. The E.H. Montgomery General Store will host the Gold Hill Founders Day Bluegrass Mini-Fest at the Park Amphitheater from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. with Danny & Eva Casstevens, The Dusty River Band, The Catawba Bluegrass Band, Doug Davis & The Blue Ridge Mountain Heirs and Jean Luc Leroux & Friends. Additional music at Gold Hill Methodist Church will be Ryan Navey & Friends, The Edenfield Family and Creekside Bluegrass Band. 

Gold Hill Maps and Brochures will be available in the shops and at the Information Booth near the Gold Hill Jail in the park. The History Hayrides will board at the Assay Office. Be sure to pick up the hiking map for the Gold Hill Rail Trail and take time to check out the hiking trails in Gold Hill Mines Historic Park while you’re visiting.

The event hosted by the Historic Gold Hill and Mines Foundation, Inc., is held each year on the fourth Saturday in September. All proceeds benefit the restoration and maintenance of Gold Hill Mines Historic Park.

The park and town are located at 770 St. Stephens Church Road, in eastern Rowan County. Check out more about the event on the website at www.historicgoldhill.org. For more info, contact 704-267-9439.