Come one, come all to help Tryon celebrate its 125th birthday this Labor Day weekend!
Chartered as an official town in 1885, this unique hamlet of Polk County enjoys a rich history in the visual arts, literature, music, theatre, equestrian sports, and more.
There will be activities for children and adults throughout the weekend at Tryons cultural treasures and historic venues, including the grand opening of the Tryon Toy Maker House & Museum.
Festivities begin on Friday, Sept. 3 with a golf tournament at the historic Tryon Country Club (9 holes at 9 am/18 holes at 1 pm) (call 859-9561 to register). Downtown shops, pubs and galleries will remain open late that evening and celebrants can partake in several Friday night activities, such as the Summer Tracks Concert at Rogers Park at 7 p.m., featuring The Firecracker Jazz Band playing jazz, Dixieland, big band, music from 1890-1940.
On Saturday, September 4 the Tryon Heritage Parade at 11 a.m. will kick off the weekend events.
There will be food and beverages for sale from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. as well as souvenirs, commemorative merchandise, and crafts by local artists. Attendees can take carriage rides from 12 to 4 p.m. through historic Godshaw Hill and the Melrose neighborhood and take a self-directed walking tour of historic downtown Tryon. Guided tours of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church stained glass collection (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.), the historic Tryon Cemetery and the Historic Rock House (former home and studio of Josephine Sibley Couper) are also available.
Some of the many other activities throughout the day will include:
The concert schedule is 2 p.m. – Joyce Breeden; 3 p.m. – Cabell Brand; 4 p.m. – Wishgrove; 5 p.m. – Phoenix Road & Noah Stockdale; 6 p.m. – The Antibodies.
Grand opening of the Tryon Toy Makers House/Museum on East Howard Street with antique toys, craft activities for children, prizes for people dressed in costumes and the chance to record memories of historic Tryon
Tryon Arts & Crafts on Harmon Field Road with active workshops, blacksmith and metal smith show and exhibit of beautifully hand-crafted works,
African-American History exhibit and sale of hand-crafted folk art dolls by local African-American artisans in the Shops of Tryon on Trade Street
The newly opened Marilyns Melrose Inn on Melrose Avenue with an exhibit in the historic building of 28 quilts by new resident and owner, renowned quilt artist, Marilyn Doheny
Tryon Fine Arts Center on Melrose Avenue with a lobby exhibit of paintings by longtime Tryon resident, Stella Sassoon and “Wonderful World of Recycled Plastics” sculptural works in Gallery One by new resident, David Edgar who will also be demonstrating how to make art from recycled plastic next door at the Arts Palette
White Oak Manor is celebrating Tryon’s 125th anniversary with a series of events on Saturday. Beginning at 10 a.m. the retirement and nursing home community will pay tribute to Tryon area teachers, retired and current, with coffee and donuts in the White Oak Village Apartment living room. At noon, an exhibit of articles made by the residents of White Oak Community will be on display. During the afternoon there will be live music and refreshments at the shuffle board court.
Tryon residents Mara and Ford Smith will be introducing two new books at a book signing from noon until 2 p.m. at The Book Shelf. They will have another book signing and a winetasting from 4 to 6 p.m. at La Bouteille on Trade Street. The Book Shelf plans to feature other Tryon authors during the weekend.
The Tryon 125th Birthday celebration is sponsored by the Town of Tryon, Tryon Downtown Development Association and The Tryon Tourism Office. For more information, contact: Wanda May at 828-817-5059.
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