Center for Pioneer Life

10/15/2026

🍂 History Happy Hour: Thanksgiving Traditions and Their Origins! 🦃

Have you ever wondered how Thanksgiving became the holiday we celebrate today?

Join us at the Center for Pioneer Life for a special History Happy Hour featuring author Denise Kiernan, as she explores the fascinating history behind one of America's most cherished traditions!

Drawing from her books We Gather Together, Denise will share the remarkable story of how Thanksgiving became a national holiday and how gratitude, unity, and community have shaped its history.

📅 Tuesday, November 3, 2026

🕕 6:00–8:00 PM

📍 Center for Pioneer Life
134 Joe Young Road, Burnsville, NC

As we approach the Thanksgiving season, this is a wonderful opportunity to discover the stories behind the traditions that bring us together year after year.

🍁 We hope you'll join us for an evening of history, conversation, and community!

🎟️ Register here:
https://www.pioneerlife.org/event-details-registration/history-happy-hour-thanksgiving-traditions-and-their-origins

10/12/2026

🍂🎄 Get Creative This Fall and Holiday Season!

The Center for Pioneer Life is happy to welcome Yancey County Cooperative Extension as they host a series of Autumn and Christmas Wreath-Making Classes at our beautiful historic farm!

Whether you're looking to add a festive touch to your fall decorations or get a head start on Christmas, these classes are a wonderful opportunity to get creative and celebrate the changing seasons!

🍁 Autumn Wreath-Making Classes

October 17 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

October 22 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

🎄 Christmas Wreath-Making Classes

November 14 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

November 19 | 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM

📍 Location: Center for Pioneer Life
134 Joe Young Road, Burnsville, NC

📞 Call (828) 682-6186 to reserve your spot!

We're excited to partner with Yancey County Cooperative Extension and welcome everyone to the farm for these fun, seasonal classes!

10/10/2026

Good morning!

Due to inclement weather, the Center for Pioneer Life will be closed for tours.

Our Fire C***r Workshop will be postponed until next Saturday at 3pm. We are still taking participants for the new date and you can register here: https://www.pioneerlife.org/event-details-registration/fire-c***r-workshop

Stay safe!

10/09/2026

📚 October History Happy Hour Is Coming Soon!

Join us at the Center for Pioneer Life for our October History Happy Hour with Evin Burleson!

This month’s program, "Abolition in Exile: The Struggle for Anti-Slavery in North Carolina" explores Anti-Slavery in North Carolina. The state has always been socially and politically divided. While antebellum narratives often portray the South as uniformly pro-slavery, the reality was more complex. Some North Carolinians opposed slavery and only departed when the State banned their views. In exile, they created enduring legacies that have been largely overlooked in North Carolina's history, yet their actions significantly influenced the national history of the United States.

📅 Tuesday, October 13
⏰ 5:30 PM
📍 Center for Pioneer Life
134 Joe Young Road, Burnsville, NC

Come enjoy an evening of history, conversation, and a deeper look into the people and events that shaped North Carolina.

👉 Learn more and register:

Join us for History Happy Hour with Evin Burleson to learn about "Abolition in Exile: The Struggle for Anti-Slavery in North Carolina" at 6:30 pm

10/08/2026

🔥 Don’t Forget—Our Fire C***r Workshop Is This Saturday!

There’s still time to join us at the Center for Pioneer Life for our Fire C***r Workshop!

📅 Saturday, October 10
⏰ 3:00 PM
📍 Center for Pioneer Life
134 Joe Young Road, Burnsville, NC

Learn about this traditional herbal tonic, the ingredients that give it its signature kick, and how it has been used for generations. Best of all, this is a make-and-take workshop—you’ll create your own fire c***r to take home with you!

Come spend the afternoon learning a traditional skill and leave with something you made yourself.

Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot!

👉 Register here: https://www.pioneerlife.org/event-details-registration/fire-c***r-workshop

10/06/2026

🍂 A Quick October Reminder from the Center for Pioneer Life

If the first Tuesday of the month has you thinking about History Happy Hour — don’t head our way just yet!

📚 Our October History Happy Hour will be held on the SECOND Tuesday this month, which is Tuesday, October 13 at 6:30 PM, not today!

Join us for “Abolition in Exile: The Struggle for Anti-Slavery in North Carolina” with historian Evin Burleson. We’ll explore a fascinating and lesser-known chapter of North Carolina history.

But you don’t have to wait until next week to visit us!

🔥 FIRE C***R WORKSHOP — THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10 | 3–5 PM

Join Olivia Ramos of Soil Shine Farm & Ferments for a hands-on make-and-take Fire C***r Workshop. Learn about the ingredients and traditions behind fire c***r, make your own batch, and take it home with you!

📍 Center for Pioneer Life
134 Joe Young Road, Burnsville

Two great October events — one this weekend and one next Tuesday. We hope to see you at both!

***r

09/30/2026

Make Your Own Fire C***r This Fall! 🍂

Join us at the Center for Pioneer Life for a hands-on Fire C***r Workshop!

📅 Saturday, October 10
⏰ 3:00–5:00 PM
💲 $30 per person
📍 Center for Pioneer Life, Burnsville

Led by Olivia Ramos of Soil Shine Farm & Ferments, this workshop will introduce you to the ingredients and traditions behind fire c***r, a flavorful herbal tonic made with herbs, vegetables, vinegar, and honey.

Best of all, this is a MAKE & TAKE workshop! You’ll create your own fire c***r during the workshop and take it home with you to finish and enjoy.

Come learn a traditional skill, make something useful for the fall season, and take a little piece of the experience home with you!

09/28/2026

🍂 October at the Center for Pioneer Life 🍂

Fall is the perfect time to gather, learn something new, and connect with the traditions and history of our region. We have two special events coming up this October!

🔥 FIRE C***R WORKSHOP
Saturday, October 10 | 3:00–5:00 PM
$30 per person

Join Olivia Ramos of Soil Shine Farm & Ferments for a hands-on Fire C***r Workshop! Learn how to make this traditional herbal tonic using fiery herbs and vegetables, vinegar, and honey while discussing the ingredients and traditions behind this wintertime staple.

📚 HISTORY HAPPY HOUR: ANTI-SLAVERY IN NORTH CAROLINA
Tuesday, October 13 | 6:30–8:00 PM

Join historian Evin Burleson for “Abolition in Exile: The Struggle for Anti-Slavery in North Carolina.”

Explore a lesser-known chapter of North Carolina history and learn about North Carolinians who opposed slavery, the circumstances that led some to leave the state, and the influence their actions had beyond North Carolina.

📍 Both events will be held at the Center for Pioneer Life
134 Joe Young Road, Burnsville, NC

Make plans to spend some of your October with us!

Tickets and registration are available on our website: https://www.pioneerlife.org/copy-of-about

***r

09/26/2026

So happy to have Murphy Campbell with us today filming her new music video! 🪕🎥

76K Followers, 441 Following, 0 Posts

09/24/2026

🍂 Celebrate Appalachian Heritage This Weekend! 🍂

The Center for Pioneer Life encourages you to head into Burnsville for The Old Timey Fall Festival, happening Friday and Saturday, September 25–26, from 10 AM–4 PM on the Town Square!

Enjoy handmade Appalachian crafts, antique cars and tractors, apple butter, live music, square dancing, and more—all while celebrating the traditions and character of our mountain community.

And if you finish up at the festival and want to keep exploring Appalachian history and heritage, come visit us at the Center for Pioneer Life! We’ll be open Friday and Saturday from 10 AM–3 PM for guided tours of our historic site.

Make a day of it—enjoy the festival in town, then step even further back in time with us at the Center!

Support local. Celebrate our heritage. 🍁 https://www.facebook.com/share/1HgwRakApZ/?mibextid=wwXIfr

A yearly festival in Burnsville, NC celebrating heritage crafts, vintage cars, & historic folkways.