Mars Hill University, is the host location for The Bascom Lamar Lunsford “Minstrel of Appalachia” Festival, the birthplace of festival cofounder, Bascom Lamar Lunsford.  Located in one of the most beautiful regions of the Eastern United States in the mountains of Western North Carolina, the town of Mars Hill has a population of about 2,200.  It is approximately 10 minutes from Marshall, the county seat of Madison County, 20 minutes north of Asheville, NC and approximately 45 minutes southwest of Johnson City, TN.  From the 194-acre campus, which sits at an elevation of 2,330 feet, an inspiring panorama of lofty peaks may be viewed, including the Craggies and Clingman’s Peak. Such scenic attractions as Mount Mitchell, Craggy Gardens, Linville Falls and Cavern, Biltmore House and Gardens, and the Blue Ridge Parkway are within easy driving distance.