Fee Free Days 2019
Free entrance days to all national parks and free tours of the Sandburg Home in 2019.
- Saturday, April 20 – First Day of National Park Week/National Junior Ranger Day
- Sunday, August 25 – National Park Service Anniversary
- Saturday, September 28 – National Public Lands Day
- Monday, November 11 – Veterans Day
April 1 through May 31
Youth Art Exhibit "Let a Joy Keep You"
More than 700 students from across the country used canvases for an artistic expression inspired by the first line of Carl Sandburg’s poem “Joy.” 71 canvases were submitted to the exhibit and each reflects how the young artists chose to interpret what joy means to them. Visitors can see the installation in a building adjacent to the Sandburg Home when they visit. Young artists are represented from across the country and locally, including students from Sugarloaf Elementary School in Hendersonville, NC.
May 13 through October 31
“Dressing for the Occasion: Mid-Century Sandburg as Celebrity and Family Man”
*Included with the house tour
The exhibit is part of the Sandburg Home tour and features clothing and accessories from both the park’s permanent collection and loaned items from the Sandburg family. “Dressing for the Occasion” offers visitors a window into the style, culture, and feel of mid-century America. The family’s clothing and accessories weave together the roles of Carl Sandburg as a prominent writer, celebrity, father, and husband. This temporary exhibit offers an exciting opportunity for the public to view objects that are normally in storage or in the possession of Sandburg family members. Tours of the Sandburg Home are offered daily from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Tickets are available first come, first served, each day from the visitor information area in the ground level of the Sandburg Home. Learn more about the exhibit here.
May 27 (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. Learn more here.
- 11 am - Lillian Chase and Friends perform old-time music performance
- 12 pm - Drayton and the Dreamboats play a mix of swing tunes, latin numbers and vocal ballads from the golden age of radio.
- 1 pm - Leeda "Lyric" Jones plays soul music. Lyric started out busking on the streets of Asheville while touching many hearts.
- 2 pm - Jamie Laval (Celtic violin) with Megan McConnel (vocalist). Recognized throughout the U.S and Britain as one of the premier performers of traditional Celtic music today, Laval appeared on Dave Matthews’ platinum album, Some Devil, and performed for Her Majesty the Queen.
June 1 (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 12 through August 10
*No Shows July 17-20
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 new park amphitheater located near the front lake. More information and a 2019 schedule is available here.
June 25, July 20 and August 11
Sandburg Sing-a-Long
Sandburg Sing-a-Long is a new series offered each month throughout the summer. Featuring music from Sandburg’s "The American Songbag," musicians will lead the audience in singing along at the amphitheater. Song sheets will be available. The schedule is:
- Tuesday, June 25 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm
- Saturday, July 20 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm
- Sunday, August 11 from 3:00 to 5:00 pm
September (week of September 16)
Citizenship Day Naturalization Ceremony
New American citizens from western North Carolina will participate in a naturalization ceremony at the park. The public is welcome to attend this special event.
November 30 (Saturday) from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Christmas at Connemara
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, 2020.
