Mountain Day 2026
Mountain Day is an annual event organized by Berea College during every fall semester. On Mountain Day, all classes are dismissed and the labor is cancelled, except for essential labor such as Food Service, Hospital, Boone Tavern, and Public Safety. Mountain Day celebrates the nature and the environment surrounding us, especially exploring the Appalachian culture and the mountain people of the region. Mountain Day celebration serves as an example of Berea’s mission to serve the Appalachian region and its people.
Historical Background
The first Mountain Day was held in 1875; yet, the event was first mentioned in the 1907 edition of the College Catalog as an ‘excursion.’ There are no records of the official ‘statement of purpose’ of the Mountain Day; however, it is believed that the nature of Mountain Day was to:
- provide an opportunity for alumni to visit the campus and their former teachers and friends
- to provide sanctioned social excursion for students
- to enjoy the Fall color and other natural wonders in immediate vicinity
- to provide a campus holiday free of classes and non-essential labor (in an e-mail to Shannon Wilson from John Cook)