Join in the many events scheduled throughout the month of May 2017 to celebrate Barn Month here in Madison County, surrounding the premiere Barn Day event on Saturday May 20th. Madison County has more than 10,000 barns and was the largest producer of burley tobacco in North Carolina in the mid 20th century. Many of those tobacco barns and other general purpose barns from 100 years ago still stand. Agriculture has been a way of life since the first settler arrived and shapes the culture and the scenery. The Appalachian Barn Alliance has partnered with others in the county to celebrate that heritage during the month of May.

The entire month of May: 200 years of barn building evolution photo display at Zuma Coffee at 7 N Main Street in downtown Marshall.  Stop by during regular hours.

Thursday, May 4 at 7:30pm: Lecture and Guided Tour at 8:15pm of the “Shelter on the Mountain: Barns and Building Traditions Of the Southern Highlands” exhibit at the Rural Heritage Museum at MHU. Lecture by Taylor Barnhill, Architect & Chief Researcher of the Appalachian Barn Alliance in Peterson Lecture Room, Blackwell Hall.  For more information call (828) 689-1400. FREE

Friday, May 5 from 5:30 to 7:30pm: Exhibit Opening Reception of  “THE BARNS OF MADISON COUNTY”
Location: Madison County Arts Center, 90 S. Main Street, Marshall (828 649-1301)
Both amateur and professional photographers and artists have been invited to display and sell their images of barns. Enjoy this Opening Reception, view the artworks and talk with the artists about their work. Celebrate the barns of our county.

May 8 – May 30:  “THE BARNS OF MADISON COUNTY” EXHIBIT
Location: Madison County Arts Center, 90 S. Main Street, Marshall (828 649-1301) Open Monday through Friday 10am to 4pm
Drop by the Arts Center in downtown Marshall all month long to see the exhibit and have the opportunity to own one of the pieces to take home. Both amateur and professional photographers and artists have been invited to display and sell their images of barns.

Sunday, May 14 from 1 to 3pm:  ‘Barn Journals’ ; Color Drawing Workshop with local artist and art educator Susan McChesney; www.mcchesneyart.com; Beech Glen Community Center, Mars Hill. With color drawing/watercolor materials and a handmade paper journal provided, learn introductory drawing basics in sketches that capture what you see in your own unique way in either barns and other buildings visible from the center or photos of barns provided as ‘imaginary windows’. Suggested donation to ABA. More information and reservations (required) please email mcc@mcchesneyart.com or call 207.232.7759

Saturday, May 20 from 2:30pm to 7:30pm:  BARN TOUR DAY LINK

Sunday, May 21 from 1 to 4pm: Join The Mad Spinners on the MHU Quad, near the Rural Heritage Museum, as they demonstrate wool spinning. It is another good chance to drop in to see the exhibit at the Museum, too.