Free Community Event! 10 a.m. –  7:30 p.m.

The 19th annual Daniel Boone Family Festival will be held in Historic Downtown Mocksville on Saturday, May 4th, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., with entertainment on the outdoor stage continuing until  7:30 p.m. Featuring historical tours, living history demonstrations, live music, local artisans, food, gem mining, axe throwing, and a kids’ zone with free inflatables and face painting, there’s something for everyone at this all-day event! 

Retrace the Steps of Daniel Boone, the Revolutionary War, Historic Homes, and More!

Daniel Boone spent nearly 25 years in the Yadkin Valley area, and one of two tours hosted by the Davie County Historical and Genealogical Society revolves around landmarks associated with the Boone clan. The big attraction for Boone buffs is Tour A, which runs at 10:15 a.m., 12:15 p.m., and 2:15 p.m. Local historian Mark Hager, president of the Forks of the Yadkin historical association, will regale tour attendees with stories of the Boone family’s life in Davie County during stops at historic Joppa Cemetery, where Daniel’s parents, Squire and Sarah Boone, and his brother Israel are buried (Israel’s grave is the oldest in the cemetery); the Boone Tract at Bear Creek, a 640-acre parcel of land granted to Squire Boone in 1753 and later sold to his son Daniel; the Daniel Boone Marker in Farmington; nearby Pudding Ridge, where General Cornwallis crossed Dutchman Creek in pursuit of Nathanael Greene (Cornwallis named the area for the thick mud in the area his troops had to march through) and other locations across the county. The tour lasts around 1 hour and 45 minutes. 

Tour B offers a tour inside the lovingly restored Jesse A. Clement House (circa 1824 ) by current owners Mike and Margaret Cevasco, members of the Historical Society. The home, listed on the National Register, retains its seven original fireplaces and 16-inch thick walls and is furnished with period furniture. The Cervascos will further delight tour attendees with accounts of the Boone family and Davie County during stops at Joppa Cemetery, Bear Creek, and the Historic Center Arbor, constructed as a site for “camp meetings” during the Third Great Awakening in 1876.  Departure times are 10:40 a.m., noon, and 1:30 p.m. This tour lasts around 1 hour and 30 minutes. All tours are $5 and provided by bus or van.

Tickets for the tours will be available at the Historical Society’s booth next to the war monument. Contact Linda Leonard at (336) 909-2370 to inquire about the tours or reserve time slots.

New This Year – Living History Demonstrations 

Take a step back in time as costumed interpreters from the North Carolina Daniel Boone Heritage Trail share living history demonstrations and displays about colonial life from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carolina Frost Cabin at the corner of S. Main Street and Lexington Rd.  A musket firing demonstration will be held at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. 

“We have a line-up of living history interpreters who will share with visitors what life was like in the time of Daniel Boone,” said Boone Trail Event Coordinator Doug Mitchell. “There will be flintlock lessons, tomahawk throwing, colonial music, cooking, spinning, leatherworking, and stories of the Boones in North Carolina. We are pleased to be a part of this festival and share some of Davie County’s history. If you think you may be related to Daniel Boone, we will have a professional genealogist with us who may be able to help you find your roots.” 

Doug Mitchell cooks bacon on a campfire. Meet him at the Daniel Boone Festival on May 4th for a living history demonstration.
Doug Mitchell cooks bacon on a campfire. Meet him at the Daniel Boone Festival on May 4th. 

“Many people, particularly kids, have no idea who Daniel Boone was,” said Linda Leonard, president of the Davie County Historical and Genealogical Society. “They especially don’t know Daniel Boone was married here, had children, and lived here for many years. We want to keep that knowledge alive.” 

“People get off the buses amazed at how much history there is in Davie County and how much they learned.” She regularly hears comments like, “I had no idea,” and “I’ve lived here all my life and didn’t know any of this.” 

Leonard taught history for 37 years, mainly in Davie County. She often took her 8th-grade students on a tour of the county. She hopes the tours and living history demonstrations will spark an interest in history in the younger generations. 

Live Music all Day on West Depot  

Grab your chair and head over to West Depot for a hand-clappin’, foot-tappin’ good time! 

Live Music Schedule

The festival ends at 5 p.m., but the entertainment continues until 7:30 p.m.

1:30-3 p.m. – Rockie Lynne
3:30-5 p.m. – Moxie
6-7:30 p.m. – Hotwax and the Splinters 

About the Artists

Known for his chops as an electric guitar player, Rockie Lynne has assembled a world-class band here in the Carolinas and garnered a loyal following for his energetic and entertaining live show, featuring original material and popular standards delivered with a jam-band, southern rock flair.  

A musician’s musician, Lynne is what performers call a “triple threat”: a soulful songwriter, a moving singer, and a master guitarist. Starting as a lead guitar player in rock’n’roll bands as a teenager, he fell in love with country music in his native North Carolina, polished his guitar chops in Los Angeles, and finally blossomed as a songwriter in Nashville, signing a major recording contract with Universal Records.

His critically acclaimed albums have received rave reviews from The Associated Press, People Magazine, USA Today, to name a few. Over the last decade, he has appeared nationally on “Good Morning America,”  ABC News, in the pages of People Magazine, and has had four top-40 hits on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

Moxie will bring a variety of pop, soul, R&B, and funk music from all eras! This Winston-Salem-based band is ready to play some high-energy music that is sure to have you out of your seat! If you like artists like Aretha Franklin, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder, and Tina Turner, then Moxie is the band for you. Featuring Staci McBeth’s soulful and powerful vocals, three-part harmonies, and a tight, high-energy rhythm section, Moxie’s sound combines a funky groove with a rock attitude that is delighting audiences throughout the Triad region and beyond.

How do you like your BLUEGRASS? Hopefully, smoking hot! If so, you’re in the right place. Hotwax and the Splinters is the Triad’s Finest in Bluegrass Entertainment! Voted one of the best live shows in the Triad for over 3 years and running, these fellas will keep you coming back for more! A four-man ensemble, armed with one mic, the Splinters will have you entertained from their first note until their last encore. 

For over twenty years, they’ve grazed many stages with different faces but always have had that hard-driving,  North Carolina style of Bluegrass. Individually they are Splinters, but together they are Hotwax & the Splinters. 

All of the performances are free of charge.  Alcoholic beverages and water can be purchased in the concert area (no coolers, please). Food will be available for purchase at the food court.

Additional Information

The Daniel Boone Family Festival is sponsored by the Mocksville Tourism Development Authority. To learn more, visit MocksvilleNC.org or contact Director of Marketing and Community Development Jennifer Evens at jtevens@mocksvillenc.gov or (336)-753-6705. Follow the Mocksville Facebook page for all the details and event updates.