Audiences come to watch teams compete by dancing standard forms, then freestyle, like figure skaters. People cheer for their favourites. It keeps families together. Indeed, families line rows of seats, from small children to grandparents. Early on, the floor is cleared for an appearance by the local Magnum Cloggers, who step into lighted spots in a straight row.
Many people come here to take clogging lessons.
A highlight of the year in Haywood County is the North Carolina International Folk Festival, held in late July. Also known as Folkmoot USA, this is the only European-style festival of its kind held in the United States. It features native-costumed dancers and musicians from around the world performing in folk art shows, right along with mountain cloggers and fiddlers. They put on a heckuva show. They was great entertainers.