About Clay County, NC

Welcome in 2012 Mountain Style at the Possum Drop in Brasstown, NC! No we don’t drop a big ball or a peach - its a Possum. This year's festivities to welcome in the New Year will start at 9:30 pm and will last until the Possum is lowered at midnight and then the fireworks display begins as we’ll usher in 2012.

Last year Bill Geist from the CBS television show Sunday Morning was there at Clay’s Corner filming so take a peak at this video from the 2011 Possum Drop. You see, Clay Logan, owner of Clay’s Corner and originator and creative director of the Annual Possum Drop is pretty famous in these parts.

Folks from near and far have been making their way to the small community of Brasstown, NC, population of about 250, to attend the Possum Queen contest of local manly-men dressed up like women, local singing and the official lower of the possum at midnight. When the weather is good you could see a crowd of about 3,000 here to celebrate. But don’t worry folks, like Clay says "It's a lot of good clean family fun. No alcohol," and "We advertise it as the only New Year's party you'll remember the next day no matter how much fun you had." It will be one New Year celebration you won't soon forget!

9:30 PM: Pre-show warm up provided by "Forgivin"

10:00 PM: Bring in the Guest of Honor - Possum Arrives!

Song by Madison Logan

The "Blessing" with the Brasstown Brigade

Little Brasstown Church Choir

Miss. Possum Contest

Music by the "Barker Brothers"

Bull Riding Competition

A Tribute to Our Service Men & Women

Countdown to Midnight

The Grand Finally...Fireworks!

For more information visit Clay & Judy Logan at Clay’s Corner
11005 Old Hwy. 64 W., Brasstown, NC 28902

or contact Lee & Carol Barbour ~ The Mountain Living Team

www.MurphyMountainLiving.com

The Clay County Progress newspaper presents the annual Hayesville Christmas Parade. The Parade will kick off the holiday season in grand style when it gets under way on the Hayesville Town Square at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10. This year’s theme is “Celebrating Clay County’s Heritage,” in commemoration of the county’s 150th anniversary. Leading the parade this year as its grand marshals are members of VFW Post 6812 and the George Lee American Legion Post and Auxiliary.

Old Shooting Creek Baptist Church’s youth tell the crowd that Jesus is the main
reason we celebrate Christmas. They won second place in the nonprofit division in 2010.

If you’re planning to participate here’s what to do:

• Parade participants should meet at the Hayesville High School parking lot, entering from the Myer’s Chapel Road. Judging of the floats begins promptly at 4:30 p.m. All floats must be on site no later than 4 p.m., and must be in the designated line-up for judging (school road). Trophies will be awarded for a first, second and third places in the profit and nonprofit float categories, as well as a Mayor’s Choice award for profit and nonprofit.

• Cars entering the Best of Show competition will meet in front of Hayesville Middle School by 4:30 p.m., for judging and line-up.

• A Best Dressed Horse award will also be presented. Horses should gather in the gravel parking lot at the school’s Myer’s Chapel Road entrance.

• Entry fee is 10 cans of food for the food pantry. Entry forms may be picked up at the Clay County Progress office, 43 Main Street, Hayesville. Entry forms must be received in the newspaper office by 12 p.m. Friday, Dec. 10. Call Becky Long at 828-389-8431 for more information or to request a form via fax. Fax completed form to 828-389-9997.

PUNKIN CHUNKIN FESTIVAL IN CLAY COUNTY NC

OCTOBER 21 - 23, 2011

If you’re looking for something fun and unusual to do one weekend in October, then perhaps you should head to the mountains and plan to attend the Annual Punkin’ Chunkin’ Festival in Clay County, North Carolina.

Sponsored by the Clay County NC Chamber of Commerce, this three-day event will feature live music and entertainment, mountain craft vendors, food (of course), a Chili Cook-Off, an Anything Punkin’ Bake-off and, needless to say, lots of chunkin’ of the punkins!!!

So, exactly WHAT IS Punkin’ Chunkin’ you ask?? It started in 1986 when a group of men in a Delaware blacksmith shop began to argue about who could throw something the farthest. The challenge was on and the men began to create their machines. In November of that year the first Punkin’ Chunkin’ contest was held with three teams and limited spectators. The event grew and spread into other areas. The World Champion Punkin Chunkin Association (WCPCA) was formed and last year thousands of teams competed in sanctioned events across the continent. There’s even an authorized book that details the History of Punkin Chunkin’.

What do you use to chunk a punkin??

Whatever contraption, similar to a trebuchet, you can dream up and build to catapult your punkin the longest distance and take home the coveted trophy.

As you can just imagine

some of the contraptions are pretty outrageous.

Hayesville, the seat of Clay County, is just a short 15 mile drive from Murphy, NC and only about 9 miles from Hiawasssee, Georgia. So there's plenty to do and see while you're here. Give us a call or email us and we'll be happy to make recommendations for lodging or tell you about great places to eat.

Don’t miss out on the fun this year - go Punkin' Chunkin'!

Bill and Cyndi