Carter Family Fold facts for kids
The Carter Family Fold is a special place near Hiltons, Virginia, where people gather to enjoy live music. It's all about keeping traditional old-time country and bluegrass music alive. This famous venue is named after the original Carter Family – A.P., Sara, and Maybelle. They were some of the very first country music stars, starting their recordings way back in 1927. A.P. and Sara Carter's daughter, Janette Carter, started the Fold in 1979.
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What Happens at the Fold?
The Carter Family Fold hosts concerts every Saturday night. Janette Carter used to lead these shows and perform until she passed away in 2006. Her daughter, Rita Forrester, now continues this important role.
To keep the music truly traditional, electric instruments are usually not allowed. This helps preserve the classic sound of old-time and bluegrass music. Visitors also follow rules like not smoking or drinking inside the venue.
Famous Performers and Family Connections
While many talented musicians perform at the Fold, most are well-known within the old-time and bluegrass music communities, but not famous worldwide. However, the legendary singer Johnny Cash performed there many times. His very last concert was at the Fold on July 5, 2003, just a few months before he passed away. Johnny Cash was connected to the Carter Family because his wife, June Carter Cash, was Maybelle Carter's daughter. June and her sisters, Helen and Anita, also performed at the Fold often.
Dancing and Community
The Fold has a dance floor where you can see unique Appalachian buckdancing and clogging. These are traditional folk dances from the Appalachian region, and they are a fun part of the weekly shows.
The Carter Family Memorial Music Center
The Carter Family Fold is the main part of a non-profit group called the Carter Family Memorial Music Center, Inc. This center also includes the cabin where A. P. Carter was born in the 1880s. This historic cabin was moved to a spot next to the Fold and fixed up before Janette Carter's death in 2006. Singer Marty Stuart, who used to play in Johnny Cash's band, helped raise money to move and restore the cabin.
The Carter Family Museum
The old Carter Store, which A. P. Carter built in the late 1940s, is now the Carter Family Museum. This building was updated in September 2009. After the renovation, many items from the Carter Family's history were put back on display. A large crowd celebrated the museum's reopening, with Rita Forrester (Janette Carter's daughter) and Marty Stuart cutting a special ribbon. Marty Stuart also performed a concert with his band, the Fabulous Superlatives, that day.
Annual Festival and Future Plans
Every August, the Carter Family Memorial Festival takes place at the Fold. In 2019, this festival celebrated its 45th anniversary, showing how long it has been a cherished tradition.
In 2009, the organization also bought land across the road from the Fold. This property includes a house that will be used for offices, and the surrounding land provides extra parking space for visitors.
Location and Seating
The Carter Family Fold and Museum are located in a beautiful area called the Poor Valley, at the base of Clinch Mountain in southern Virginia. This area was once known as Maces Spring, which was home to A.P. and Sara Carter's family, as well as Ezra and Maybelle Carter and their daughters. Since Maces Spring no longer has a post office, it is now considered part of Hiltons.
The Fold can seat 842 people. Usually, there's plenty of seating for the Saturday night shows. However, for special gospel concerts or other big events, it's a good idea to get tickets ahead of time.
See also
- List of music museums
- House of Cash
