Laura Dean Bennett
Staff Writer
The weather couldn’t have been more cooperative for Huntersville’s festivities on the first weekend of October. There were bright sunny days and cool crisp nights in the midst of the beautiful colors of fall on the surrounding mountains.
Huntersville Historical Traditions started the fun by inviting the public to enjoy a free will offering supper. Again, this year, it was “dinner on the ground” at the old Huntersville schoolhouse the Friday night of Huntersville Traditions Days.
The feast was provided by Rayetta Barnisky and Anna Landis, of Rayetta’s Lunchbox, with pork loin and all the fixins – mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and Rayetta’s famous rolls. There were more guests in attendance than ever before, with 165 meals served.
The picnic tables were gathered around the stage where The Bing Brothers and Jake Krack kept toes tapping to their old-time Appalachian music, and there was even a little square dancing to add to the fun.
After supper, the pie auction commenced, with 24 pies being auctioned off by local auctioneer, Gary Galford, who has, for many years, offered his services for free as his way of helping the HHT cause.
Local pie makers who’ve made a name for themselves with their excellent baking skills, and even some of the demonstrators who came from elsewhere, donated two dozen fine pies for the auction. The bidding was lively, with the pies going for $100 and up, and some bidders even buying more than one pie.
Huntersville resident Bob Martin, who came specifically looking for his favorite – coconut cream – snagged the two coconut cream pies and then three others, and generously sliced them up and shared them with his fellow diners. Martin and Dave Buzzard have always been among the pie auction’s most magnanimous supporters.
The auction was a big success, and was followed by an old-fashioned cakewalk, which has been named the Mary Jo Fisher Cakewalk in memory of one of HHT’s trustees and most valued members. She loved the cakewalk and although she has sadly gone on to her eternal reward, her presence and friendship continues to be felt by all.
About 100 “walkers” took chances on dozens of delicious home baked cakes as they walked around the cakewalk circle to music played by the band.
The last event of the evening was the ghost walk, led by Betty Aronson, a regular HTD participant who comes all the way from Tennessee every year to take part in HTD.
Aronson led a group of valiant guests on an after dark, lantern-lit walking tour of the historic sites of Huntersville in search of ghostly apparitions.
All in all, the evening was a great success and an auspicious beginning to the festival.
