Festival of the Frescoes
Ashe County, North Carolina
Ashe County is definitely the place to be in the month of October. Ashe County is an incredible experience and a real treat for the eyes with its scenic drives, mountain views and autumn colors. Fall Festivals are on every corner in the High Country during October.
The Annual Festival of the Frescoes is held in Glendale Springs, North Carolina at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and Mission House. The town of Glendale Springs is located just off the Blue Ridge Parkway at Milepost Marker 262. This years Festival will be held on October 9th from 10a.m. to 4p.m. The Mission House is located directly across from the church. The Festival is FREE to the public and they encourage all ages to come out and enjoy themselves.
There will be booths set-up for local arts and crafts. There will be plenty of delicious food and refreshments for everyone. During the festival there will also be a bake sale and plant sale. There will be numerous children’s activities and fantastic live music and entertainment.
During your time at the Festival you must see the life-size depiction of the Last Supper at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Thousands of people visit the frescoes each year. Ben Long is the artist who has created this moving and timeless fresco painting as well as many others throughout North Carolina. Fresco paintings date back over 3,000 years ago. Fresco is a medium where the artist presses the color pigments into the wet plaster. This process must be done quickly before the plaster hardens. As it hardens the pigments bonds into the plaster and forms this magnificent work of art. Ben Long is known as a master of the ancient art of fresco painting.
Long grew up in Statesville, North Carolina but spent time in Italy learning the fresco art techniques that he uses in his paintings. Long has received numerous awards in his illustrious career. There is also another fresco in the neighboring town of West Jefferson, North Carolina at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
For more information about the Festival of the Frescoes, please call the Mission House at (336) 982-3076.
