2018 Calendar - Celebrate the park's 50th Anniversary 1968-2018

April 1 to May 31
Art in the Park Student Art Show
67 canvasses portray an interpretation of a line from Sandburg's poetry, "nothing happens unless first a dream." Art was submitted from across the country and is on exhibit in a building adjacent to the Sandburg Home.

April 27 (Friday)
7:00 - 8:00 pm
Student Poetry Contest Celebration
Young poets from Elementary School through High School will be recognized for their writing achievements and each student will present their winning entry. The 2018 poetry contest theme is "Dream". The Celebration will take place at Blue Ridge Community College, Patton Building 150. The 2018 Writer-in-Residence Carlene Kucharczyk will also speak at this event.

April 28 (Saturday)
10am to noon
Poetry Workshop: The Wilderness of Writing
with our 2018 Writer-in-Residence Carlene Kucharczyk
Reservations limited to the first 20 people, please call 828-698-5627
“Out here, I can say anything,” writes poet Larry Levis. This feeling can be true of both poetry and the wilderness. In this workshop, we will explore not only the psychological space of the wilderness in writing, but also work that has been inspired by actual wilderness encounters. We will read and discuss individual poems, and also partake in writing prompts and exercises that surround this theme, making use of the beautiful grounds of the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site. This workshop is designed for beginning to advanced writers. And there will likely be an opportunity to share work written in the workshop.

May 28 (Memorial Day Monday)
11:00am - 4:00pm
Carl Sandburg Folk Music Festival
The folk festival honors Carl Sandburg and his preservation of traditional folk music as found in his collection The American Songbag. The festival's performers each skillfully demonstrate the tradition of performing live music to tell stories while capturing the heritage of America through song. This year the music will take place near the barn area. Click here for more information.

11am - Resonant Rogues (Appalachian old time music with swing and jazz)
Noon - Pat Corn and Buddy Davis (music from the American Songbag)
1pm - Jon Shain (finger-picking Piedmont folk blues)
2pm - David Holt with Josh Goforth (old-time mountain music)
11am to 2pm - Steve Smith (hammered dulcimer at the amphitheater)
4pm - David Holt and Josh Goforth will sign CDs in the Bookstore

June 2 (Saturday)
at 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm
Historic Connemara Walking Tours
In cooperation with the Village of Flat Rock's annual Ice Cream Social, the park offers walking tours of the grounds of Connemara sharing the history of the site before the Sandburg's moved in. East tour lasts one hour. No reservation required. Tours begin in the bookstore of the Sandburg Home.

June 13 thru August 11
Sandburg Summer Stage
Every Wednesday through Saturday at 10:15 - 10:45 am
Rootabaga Express! and Spink, Skabootch and Swipes!
Wednesday through Saturday, apprentice actors from the Flat Rock Playhouse, will share performances at 10:15 a.m., at the park amphitheatre adjacent to the Sandburg Home. NO SHOWS week of July 16. Learn more about the shows here.

September 17 (Monday)
Naturalization Ceremony
10:00 am
New American citizens from western North Carolina will participate in a naturalization ceremony at the park, hosted by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service - USCIS. The public is welcome to attend this special event.

November 24 (Saturday)
Christmas at Connemara
From 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Musicians and storytellers, crafts and sing-a-longs, hot cider and cookies. This free festive celebration will honor Carl Sandburg and his family holiday traditions. Young visitors will find many opportunities for participation in storytelling, sing-a-longs and crafts. The house will be decorated in the simple style of the Sandburgs with poinsettias and a traditionally decorated Christmas tree throughout December until January 6th, 2017.