Gold Hill Founders Day Celebrates the History of the Town
Our Bicentennial Year Celebration continues with our Gold Hill Founders Day celebrating the history of the town. The event is always held on the fourth Saturday in September. This year’s date is on Saturday September 27, 2025
Vendor Applications will be available March 1, 2025. 704.267.9439
CRAFT SPACES ARE ONLY AVAILABLE BY CALLING ONE OF THESE NUMBERS.. Don’t be Scammed by online offers for a craft space or booth.
Join us for a great Festival of arts and music, celebrating the history and culture of the once famous gold mining boom town. Gold Hill will open it’s doors to fall visitors on Saturday September 27, 2025.
Artisans, vendors and food trucks will offer much to choose from! The festival is fun for the whole family including, History Hayrides, Self-guided Tours, Hit & Miss Engines, Ore Crushing Demonstrations at the Ore Mill, Arts & Crafts, Music and More.
The day kicks off at 9:00a.m. and the Founders Day Parade begins at at 10:00a.m. The day continues with heritage exhibit demonstrations of Hit & Miss Engines, gold panning, wood carving and more.
We’re excited to announce that the Little Miss and Mr. Competition will return this year! The event will be held at 7:00pm on Friday evening at the amphitheater in Gold Hill Mines Historic Park. It will again be organized by Elite Southern Charms. Scroll below to see more info and registration information.
Music and More
Music throughout the day at the amphitheater is hosted by the Montgomery General Store. The food circle will offer a variety of foods including barbecue by the historic foundation, hot dogs, hamburgers and more.
Gold Hill Founders Day celebrates the history of the town. You can take a break from the festival activities and visit the restored gold mining town located adjacent to the park. T here are a dozen shops and a restaurant with plenty of outdoor seating to take the load off of your feet.
Pop in at the E.H. Montgomery General Store to pick up a long-neck bottle soda, coffee and pastry or hand-dipped ice cream, served in cones cups and waffle bowls. You can also purchase Ghost books and information on Gold Hill History.
Montgomery General Store also has Gold Hill Maps and Brochures. Be sure to pick up the hiking map for the Gold Hill Rail Trail. Take time to check out the hiking trails in Gold Hill Mines Historic Park while you’re visiting!!
Check out more about Gold Hill Mines Historic Park at this link. Check out more about the Historic Village of Gold Hill here.
Gold Hill Founders Day celebrates the history of the town and is hosted by the Historic Gold Hill and Mines Foundation, Inc. All proceeds benefit the restoration and maintenance of Gold Hill Mines Historic Park.
Founders Day Activities and Event Schedule
Friday 7:00pm Little Miss & Mister Competition – Gold Hill Amphitheater
Saturday 9:00am Festival opens with Vendors in the Park, Shop Open in the Village,
Living History Encampments Open at the Randolph Mine Shaft Area
and Back Lawn of the Assay Office Museum
10:00 Founders Day Parade
11:00 Music at the Amphitheater
12:00 Music at the Methodist Church
Hayrides at the Assay Office Museum
Gold Mining History Talks and Discussions -Mining History Encampment
behind the Assay Office Museum
Event Day Schedule and Press Release
*For Immediate Release*
Gold Hill Founders Day – Celebrating over 200 Years of Gold Mining History
The small community of Gold Hill, NC continues its year-long bicentennial celebration with the annual Founder’s Day on Saturday, September 27, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Gold Hill Mines Historic Park and Village of Gold Hill.
The Founders Day celebration will kick off Friday evening at the park amphitheater with the Little Miss & Mr. Gold Hill Pageant organized by Regina Poplin & Elite Southern Charms. Saturday’s activities will begin in the park and village at 9:00a.m. The annual parade will start at 10a.m. followed by, hayrides, self-guided history tours, antique hit and miss engines, blacksmithing, music and more. The celebration will also include heritage living and military history encampments.
Chilean Ore Mill
Of special interest at this year’s event will be the rare demonstrations of crushing gold ore at the 1830s Chilean Ore Mill located at the Miller Gold Mine Shaft exhibit area in the park. The mill is thought to be the only ‘complete and original’ Chilean Ore Mill in the US and was used extensively here at Gold Hill from the 1830s into the early 1900’s.
There’s lots of activities scheduled for the whole family throughout the park, including over 100 artisans & craft vendors, rope making opportunities, gold panning and gem & minerals exhibits. A dozen or more food vendors and food trucks will be on hand in the park to feed the hungry.
Gold Hill Village Shops & Restaurant
In the village, Flynn’s Village Grill & hotdog cart will be open for those needing a great sit-in meal and respite from the day’s activities. Backstreet Mercantile Pizza Shop will be offering wood-fired pizza and desserts. Montgomery General Store will offer hand-dipped ice cream, sweets and sodas, throughout the day. The Bakery in the village will offer delectable baked items. All of the Village Shops will be open throughout the day for more shopping opportunities. Music, food and games will also be available on the front lawn of Gold Hill Methodist Church.
Bring a lawn chair! The E.H. Montgomery General Store will host the Gold Hill Founders Day Bluegrass Mini-Fest at the Park Amphitheater from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
Gold Hill Maps and Brochures will be available in the shops and at the Information Booth near the Gold Hill Jail in the park. Be sure to pick up the hiking map for the Gold Hill Rail Trail and take time to check out the hiking trails in Gold Hill Mines Historic Park while you’re visiting!!
The event is held each year on the fourth Saturday in September. All proceeds benefit the restoration and maintenance of Gold Hill Mines Historic Park. The park and town are located at 770 St. Stephens Church Road, in eastern Rowan County. We’re just an hour from Charlotte, Greensboro, Statesville and Wadesboro, and a half hour from Salisbury, Concord, Asheboro and Albemarle, NC. Check out more about Gold Hill Mines Historic Park and the Historic Village of Gold Hill on the website at www.historicgoldhill.org More info: Ph. 704.267.9439
*End Release*