The 40th annual Mountain Heritage Day will be held Saturday, Sept. 27, at Western Carolina University. 

The event will once again feature the traditional foods competition A Gathering In, where baked goods, canned and dried foods and — this year — sweet potato recipes will vie for ribbons. The Best in the West Sweet Potato Recipe will highlight the importance of sweet potatoes in the Western North Carolina region. 

The weeks ahead provide plenty of time to prepare preserved entries and plan winning recipes. Food entries will be accepted at the Mountain Heritage Center at specific times leading up to the festival.

Canned goods and heritage foods may be dropped off at the Cordelia Camp Building on campus between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 24; baked goods and the Best in the West Sweet Potato dishes (along with their respective recipes) from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26.

828.586.4009 or 828.227.7129, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or www.mountainheritageday.com.