Yadkin Riverkeeper Edgar Miller and Yadkin River State Trail (YRST) coordinator Ward Swann, will be attending the Happy Valley Jamboree to be held August 30-September 1 at the Jones Family Farm located off Highway 268 on the Yadkin River between Wilkesboro and Patterson. YRK is developing a proposal to extend the YRST above the Kerr Scott Reservoir Dam to the Wilkes County line.
Edgar and Ward will be camping at the Jones Farm and paddling/exploring different segments of the upper Yadkin River during the course of the weekend. Primitive camping is available for $25 for the Labor Day weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday night) or $10 per night. YRK members and paddlers are welcome to attend and paddle with Edgar and Ward as the weather, water levels, and obstructions (i.e., logjams) permit, but it is BYOB, “bring your own boat” and we will be “self-shuttling.”
The Jamboree will feature traditional bluegrass bands and musicians competing in judged competitions, as well as storytelling, contests, vendors, information booths and cakewalks. This year is a slightly scaled back version of the Happy Valley Fiddlers’ Convention held on the Jones Farm site since 2005. Due to the generosity of the Jamboree sponsors, admission is free for the music this year.
The upper Yadkin River Valley, known historically as Happy Valley, is a beautiful mountain valley carved by the Yadkin River and surrounded by the Brushy Mountains. The area is rich in history, including 13 sites on the National Register of Historic Places and the grave sites of both Laura Foster and her alleged murderer Tom Dula, who was hanged in Statesville for her murder.
The Valley is home to the Whippoorwill Academy and Village, a recreated Scottish settlement; Fort Defiance, the restored home of Revolutionary War General William Lenoir, on which the NC portion of the popular TV series “The Outlander” is believed to be based; and The Patterson School, which offers overnight lodging and is now the home to the WNC Sculpture Center and Park. At the upper end of Happy Valley is the Happy Valley Filling Station, which is a microbrewery and wood-fired pizza restaurant, and highly recommended by YRK.
If you are interested in attending the Jamboree and paddling the Upper Yadkin with YRK, please email Katie Wilder at katiew@yadkinriverkeeper.org and she’ll have Ward or Edgar contact you as the paddling options become clearer.