Raven Rock Dancers, story tellers, tours featured at 7th Annual Heritage Walk & Festival

The 7th Annual Heritage Walk & Festival will be held Labor Day weekend in historic Murphy, N.C., beginning at the historic L&N Depot, Saturday, Sept. 1, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; free admission. Sponsored by Heritage Partners and the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, come celebrate the history, artistry and craftsmanship, music, and agricultural heritage of Cherokee County.

New to the event will be the Raven Rock Dancers performing traditional Cherokee dances and a story telling session depicting the removal of the Cherokee Indians from this area and more. Murphy is the site of Fort Butler where the Cherokee in the area were rounded up for the march to Oklahoma along the Trail of Tears in 1838.

Tours of historic homes operating as bed and breakfasts are also planned. One newly restored home on the tour is Angel's Landing Inn Bed & Breakfast.

Also on Sept. 1, enjoy the Cherokee County Historical Museum's annual Heritage Day and the Farmer's Market, both in downtown Murphy. The museum will be celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special program featuring Principal Chief Michele Hicks, Qualla Boundary, Cherokee, NC.

The Heritage Walk features characters from times past performing "mini plays" throughout the historic town center. Traditional mountain instrumentalists and vocalists are featured live on the Mountain Song stage. Arts, crafts and food will be offered.

Formed in 1839, Cherokee County, "the other Cherokee," has seven sites on the National Register of Historic Places.