2007 Brown Mountain Lights Festival

The Brown Mountain Lights. What are they? What could they be doing here?
Where can I see them? Are they real?
These and other questions will be drawing hundreds of visitors to the village of Linville
Falls during the weekend of September 14-16 for the second annual festival held in
celebration of these mysterious colored lights that have appeared for centuries upon a
nearby ridge top. This year’s festival will be markedly different from the one before in
that it will focus solely on the lights, since the county heritage component has moved to
another community. As in last year’s fest, however, mountain music will be an eminent
feature joining a lecture series throughout Saturday to celebrate what is perhaps the most
famous of North Carolina’s natural mysteries. Slated to perform on the outdoor stage are
the Wiseman Family, Herb Greene, Herman Coffey, and Terry McKinney. Speakers
include Appalachian State University physics professor Dan Caton, the paranormal
research group from Asheville, L.E.M.U.R., and Linville Gorge expert, Bob Underwood,
among others.
Regional fine arts and crafts will be exhibited and offered for sale on Saturday.
Friday night’s open-mike session at the bonfire will attract people willing to share their
own experiences of seeing the lights. There will be music and a bonfire at Wiseman’s
View on Saturday night. An interdenominational church service Sunday at 11 a.m., also
at Wiseman’s View on Linville Gorge’s western rim, will close the festivities.
Sponsored by the Linville Falls Village Association and the Jonas Ridge Fire and
Rescue the festival will again converge on the exhibition hall across from Linville Falls
Lodge on highway 183, near its junction with highway 221 and near the stone post office
building. The Jonas Ridge Fire Department will be providing food and drinks as part of
its fundraising drive. The distinctive Brown Mountain Lights tee-shirts (and sweatshirts)
will be available.
Artists and crafts persons are invited to exhibit at the festival. Ten-foot by ten tents with
table are available for rent for $50.00, or participants may bring their own tents and pay
an entry fee of $35.00. Interested vendors should contact Shirley McNeil
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Festival directions and schedules are posted on the village web
site at: www.linvillefallsvillage.com.