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That's a wrap for the 2025 Appalachian Homecoming, but check out the highlights below, download our workshop recipes, and stay tuned for next year!
To download the recipe cards or PDF, please click the recipe image and continue to download.
Appalachia Through the Ages
A Celebration of Food, Music, and Culture
Saturday, August 2
Locations:
Dancing Bear Lodge & Appalachian Bistro (Morning + Afternoon)
Peaceful Side Brewery (Evening)
9:30 AM - Welcome & Panel Discussion
Gather for a warm welcome and a look at how Appalachian traditions continue to shape our table.
10:00 AM - Culinary Workshop: Staples of Appalachia
Choose one hands-on session to explore baking traditions through the ages, led by regional experts: Mary Thompson, Sharon Benton, Malia Crowe, and Connie Miller.
- Corn (Pre-contact) - Discover indigenous recipes from an Eastern Band Cherokee culture keeper, featuring ancestral ingredients like blue corn, blueberries, and chestnuts.
- Biscuits (Settler Era) - Make Sharon Benton's famous biscuits and enjoy them with Benton's country ham.
- Sourdough (Modern Revival) - Learn sourdough bread-making from Connie Millar, the Queen of Smoky Mountain Sourdough.
12:00 PM - Community Lunch
Enjoy a hearty lunch with breads from each workshop, plus heritage-inspired proteins and sides.
1:00 PM - Music in Appalachia Through the Ages
Hosted by Alex Leach, this storytelling and performance session explores the musical roots and rhythms of the region, from early days to today.
Saturday Evening: August 2nd
Smoke & Strings
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Peaceful Side Brewery
Smoke & Strings: A Whole Hog Roast Experience!
Saturday night - August 2nd - Smoke & Strings is bringing you a night of serious flavor and live music.
We're firing up a Whole Hog Roast, helmed by a powerhouse lineup of culinary talent. We will welcome the masterful creations
Chef Tyler Trainum
Chef Sarah Rennie
Chef Jeff Carter
Chef Trevor Stockton
Providing the soundtrack for this epic evening will be the wildly talented Alex Leach and Friends, delivering a performance that's sure to keep you moving.
Weekend Accommodations:
Includes the following amenities when booked with the Saturday All Day Package:
- Friday Night 10 Year Anniversary Party (see below for a sneak peek!)
- Select accommodation style of your choice
- Saturday Appalachian Homecoming Programming
- Smoke & Strings Dinner at Peaceful Side Brewery
- Daily breakfast options included
- Complementary bicycle rental
