Heritage Day, an annual event of Westmoore Pottery, will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. This event commemorates the founding of Westmoore Pottery by David and Mary Farrell in November 1977.

"During each Heritage Day we also highlight some aspect of pottery from North Carolina's past," says potter David Farrell, "so that we're celebrating our own 32 years of history at Westmoore Pottery as well as North Carolina's pottery history from long ago."

The focus of this year's Heritage Day will be on styles of pottery that were made by North Carolina's prolific Moravian potters. Displays with information about those early Moravian potters of the 1700s and early 1800s will be scattered throughout the shop.

"This year's focus seemed only natural, since our 2009 Heritage Day coincides with the release of a new book about the Moravian potters of North Carolina," says Mary Farrell.

The "2009 Ceramics in America," a hardcover volume that is scheduled to be released, is all about North Carolina's Moravian heritage. In addition to the well-known Moravian potters of the Winston-Salem area, it will also cover a much lesser-known Moravian potter who worked near Asheboro in the late 1700s. Westmoore Pottery will be offering the book for sale to customers at a heavily discounted rate only through Heritage Day on Nov. 7.

Two kilnloads of pottery by Westmoore Pottery will be opened for Heritage Day, and will be available for purchase beginning at 9 a.m. Pottery from those kilnloads will reflect the focus of the day.

Pottery-making will be demonstrated throughout the day. The official Westmoore Pottery scrapbooks will be on display, and refreshments will be served.

Though primarily potters, the Farrells of Westmoore Pottery are also well known as dedicated preservationists of early pottery techniques. Their interest in old styles, and in spreading their knowledge about old styles, is long-standing. Work by Westmoore Pottery is used as furnishings or in programs by many historical museums throughout the country.

Westmoore Pottery is located at 4622 Busbee Road, just off N.C. 705, halfway between the small towns of Seagrove and Robbins.

There is no charge to the public for this event.