MHM celebrates Parkway

The Blowing Rock Chamber of Commerce, the Meadowbrook Inn, and Mountain Home Music will present a special concert on Sunday, Sept. 19, as a part of the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

The concert, Sunday Morning Singing, will feature old hymns, a special presentation about Billy Graham, a historical slide show about Blowing Rock, and a narration about local culture through the lens of area churches.

The bluegrass/Celtic band, Strictly Clean & Decent, will provide the music; Sam McGinn, from Samaritan's Purse, will discuss the legacy of Billy Graham; Tom Santay will share a slide show; and Joe Shannon, from Mountain Home Music, will provide the narration.

Strictly Clean & Decent is well known in the High Country. They have appeared on Mountain Home Music each year for the past 18 years, and this year they also opened for Symphony by the Lake at Chetola Resort. For this concert, Strictly Clean and Decent will sing well known hymns, such as "Church in the Wildwood," "In the Sweet Bye and Bye," "I'll Fly Away," and many others.

The ministry of Billy Graham has been felt around the world, across the United States, in his home state of North Carolina, and also in the village of Blowing Rock. McGinn will share a part of this legacy.

Shannon will share a brief overview of church-centered ceremonies that took place while the Blue Ridge Parkway was being built: Wedding, funerals, church picnics, community service, and old-time singings.

Santay, of Tom Santay Productions, will visually illustrate Shannon's narration.

This special presentation includes the concert and a buffet breakfast. Starting time is 9 a.m. For reservations and ticket information, contact the Meadowbrook Inn at (828) 295-4300 or by email at info@meadowbrook-inn.com. Tickets may also be purchased through the Mountain Home Music website, http://www.mountainhomemusic.com.

The Meadowbrook Inn is located at 711 Main St. in downtown Blowing Rock.