Silvermont Park will be the site of a Family Festival on June 21 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and everyone is invited.
The free event called “Celebrating Silvermont: A Family Festival,” will have music, food, arts and craft vendors, and focus on fun for people of all ages, with several activities especially for children.
The event is organized by the Silvermont Centennial Committee, a citizens group working to improve and preserve Silvermont Park.
“We look forward to everyone joining us at Silvermont Park on June 21, and seeing the potential this park has for being a valued place to play, learn and gather as a community,” says Paula Benton, chair of the committee’s event team.
“Silvermont has been an important part of our history, and can continue to be if we take care of it,” she said.
The day’s activities include a silent auction fundraiser — “Not Your Mama’s Auction” — with proceeds going to the care of the Silvermont historic mansion and the grounds.
Details on the auction items – including outdoor adventures, art, event tickets and many other items — are at www.facebook.com/silvermontpark, where bids currently are being taken. Bidding will continue at the event, where auction items will be displayed.

Many Activities

Throughout the day there will be lots of activities for people of all ages. They include:
* Checkers and Pie on the Porch
* Pottery demonstration
* Pet painting demonstration by Miriam Hughes
* Caricatures by Randy Molton
* Painting demonstration by Lisa Franke
* Gardening demonstrations by Extension Master Gardener Volunteers
* Earthshine presentation on snakes

Just for Children

And there are many special activities for children:
* Face painting by Jodi Williams
* Gem mining from Brevard Gem Mining
* Scavenger hunt
* Potato sack races
* Hula hoops
* Tennis activities
* Wishing Tree
* Bean bag toss
* Stone painting
* A Family Place tot area

Music and Dance

Several local musical groups and dancers will be performing. They include:
* The Silvermont Pickers
* Line Dancers
* West African Drummers and Dancers
* Zumba by Hiro Martin
* Transylvania Youth Strings

Arts and Crafts

In addition, there will be many arts and craft vendors. They include:
Jewelry: Terre Sainte stone jewelry, Kaleidoscope jewelry, Two Silversmiths
Pottery: Duck Pond
Painting: Miriam Hughes, Kenson, Carol McCallister, Linda Fraker
Metal artwork: Charles Calvin
Gardening: Master Gardeners, Jim Deluzia Garden art, Finders Keepers
Textiles: Cathy Langdon Textiles
Misc: Soap by Mary Sivore, Wooden Toys by Kyle Malmin.

Plenty of Food

There will be plenty to eat at the festival. Food vendors include:
Avery’s Hot Dogs
Boy Scout Pac 703 BBQ Plates
Kiwi Gelato
Blue Ridge Brittle Company
The Silvermont Centennial Committee’s goal is to see Silvermont Park repaired and improved by 2017, when the historic mansion turns 100 years old.
So far the committee has raised money to help build a new playground at the park, has received a National Society Daughters of the American Revolution grant for repair to the mansion’s original windows, and a matching donation from the Friends of Silvermont for the window repair.
It has also received a grant from the Transylvania Endowment, a grant from the Transylvania County Tourism Development Authority, and many donations from local citizens and businesses who care about Silvermont Park.
The Committee’s strategic plan for the park includes repairs and improvements totaling over $2 million through 2017.
To see the silent auction items, go to: www.facebook.com/silvermontpark where you also can place bids now.