Berea College celebrates 135th annual “Mountain Day” on Wednesday Oct. 6.

11/29/10

Students will get a day off from classes and labor to experience a day of outdoor fun on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010, for the annual Berea College Mountain Day, a college tradition since 1875.

The day’s activities begin early as students, staff, faculty and alumni will hike to the East Pinnacle for the Sunrise Celebration at 7:30 a.m. when the Berea College Concert Choir and the Berea College Country Dancers will perform. Shuttles will depart campus at 6:30 a.m. and run every 15 minutes until the beginning of the Sunrise Celebration. The last shuttle to return to campus will be at 3:15 p.m.

At 9:30 a.m. hayrides will depart from Union Church and take passengers to the Indian Fort Theatre where booths and vendors will offer food and demonstrations. In the event of rain all activities will be held in the main arena of Seabury Center.

Kentucky native Ben Sollee, a vocalist and cellist known for his percussive playing style and music that addresses poverty and environmental issues, will perform at noon at Indian Fort Theatre. Sollee was called one of the nation’s “top ten musicians you’ve never heard” in 2007 by NPR’s Morning Edition.

At 1 p.m., poet and artist Bianca Spriggs, also from Kentucky, will read a selection of her poetry that has been described as “an aggressive signature that is deftly crafted, insightful and often achingly lyrical.” Her poetry reflects the trials and triumphs of growing up as a woman of color in a border state.

Additional performances at Indian Fort Theatre include:
11:15 a.m. – Berea Country Dancers
2 p.m. – EYCE Step Team
2:10 p.m. – Berea Middle Eastern Dancers
2:20 p.m. – FYAH Dance Team
2:25 p.m. – ASA African Dance Team
2:30 p.m. – Black Music Ensemble
2:45 p.m. – Berea College Concert Choir

As part of the Mountain Day celebration, at 7 p.m. on October 5 (Mountain Day Eve), the wind and jazz ensemble will perform a concert in Presser Hall’s Gray Auditorium.