Waynesville Street Dances
Main Street
Waynesville
NC
July 14th, Aug 4th
Join the community of Downtown Waynesville for a truly authentic experience at the annual Waynesville Street Dances. Held three times each summer on Friday evenings, this late-night event has been a tradition for almost a century. Featuring the finest bluegrass musicians, bands, and clogging teams in the area, the street dances are a great way to experience the rich heritage of Appalachian culture. The dance starts with a circle, where joining hands symbolizes community, and everyone is invited to participate. The event is held on Main Street, closed off in front of the historic Haywood County Courthouse, where the asphalt is sprinkled with cornmeal to facilitate the shuffling movement of dancing feet. Bleachers are available, but feel free to bring a chair or blanket. Sponsored by the Downtown Waynesville Commission, this event is the perfect opportunity to mingle with the locals and experience the vibrant community of Downtown Waynesville.
The late evening dance has been going on for nearly a century. In the 1930’s Haywood County resident Sam Queen, known as “the dancing-est man in the land” organized the Soco Gap Dance Team, which was among the very first practiced mountain square dance and clogging demonstration teams in the country. Today his grandson, Joe Sam Queen, carries on the tradition.