Fall Farm Festival kicks off at Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm

The hills will most definitely be alive this weekend on the Blue Ridge Parkway, and not just with the sound of music.

As the start of the busy fall foliage season approaches for the picturesque mountain byway, the folks up at Humpback Rocks Mountain Farm - milepost 5.8 - are celebrating by bringing back their Fall Farm Festival, a big two-day event that kicks off today.

Musicians, artisans and exhibitions of 1890s farm life - a specialty of Humpback Rocks - will all be part of the jam-packed schedule during this year's festival, which is offered to the public for free.

"I don't think we've ever done it quite to this scale before," reflected Ted Hughes, an interpretive ranger at the popular parkway stop. "We're loading the place up with musicians. Each day, there's going to be music in the air up here. We've also searched out the best of the best among people who do crafts up here in the mountains, and we're really excited to have them."

Quilters, spinners and woodworkers are just some of the craftspeople who will be arriving to demonstrate the intricacies of their art. Music will focus heavily on the old-timey bluegrass of yore, with a dulcimer workshop available Sunday for those who catch the ballad bug.

All visitors will, of course, be able to tour the 19th-century farm replica maintained on the site throughout its regular May to November operating season. That, too, has been expanded for the special occasion, though, with plans to bring in a horse-drawn plow to till the gardens and set up activities such as apple butter making, apple cider pressing and children's games, all of which guests will be invited to participate in.

"This is a hands-on festival," explained Hughes. "We want visitors to stir the butter and press the cider and feel free to pet the horses. We pride ourselves on encouraging you to get in there, pick things up, ask questions and help us do these things. We don't want you to just walk through."

The Fall Farm Festival takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today and Sunday.

Musical acts appearing today are the Blue Ridge Ramblers, Pam Ward and Grassy Ridge, and Loose Gravel. On Sunday, the Red Drum Ramblers, Ralph Rush, and the Mountain Messengers will all take to the stage. The dulicmer workshop, led by Carol and Dave Erhardt of the Back Porch Players, will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.