Townsend, Tn and nature go hand in hand. With many events and attractions centered around the area’s more natural aspects, it’s no wonder that one of the more popular events is the annual Herb and Wildflower Day, Saturday, April 7. This Spring, Townsend’s Herb and Wildflower Day will be held at the Townsend Visitor Center, 7906 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882, 865-448-6134. Some of the many things to do during the event include illustrated talks about wildflowers, herbs, and area natural history, naturalist-led walks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, plus cooking demonstrations and classes centered around herbs, opportunities to purchase plants from area gardeners, as well as fresh baked goods, and pottery.
Townsend Herb and Wildflower Day Schedule:
7am – Bird Walk with Carey Jones, Great Smoky Mountains National Park park ranger. Meet on the back porch of the Townsend Visitors Center.
9am – “Spring Wildflowers of the Smokies”, talk by Tom Harrington, Great Smoky Mountains National Park volunteer guide.
10am – “Forest Communities”, talk by Paul Threadgill with Maryville College.
11:30am – “Cooking with Herbs”, cook and learn with Paula Begley of Little River Outfitters.
12:30-1:30pm – Lunch break. Shop and browse through all the plants, baked goods, and pottery available at the visitors center. Explore town and eat at one of the many great Townsend restaurants.
Wildflower rambles and hikes. Advance registration required *. Call 865-448-6134:
1:30-3:00pm – * Chestnut Top Trail, “What’s in Bloom”; easy stroll with Tom Harrington, Volunteer, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Meet at the trailhead at the Townsend “Wye”.
1:30-4:00pm – * White Oak Sinks; moderately strenuous hike with Jim Burbank, Volunteer, Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Meet on the porch at the Townsend Visitors Center.
The Townsend Winter Heritage Festival is a seasonal celebration of the natural beauty, heritage, and cultural traditions of Townsend, TN; Cades Cove; and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The event combines a number of the areas most renowned businesses and community groups in one large get-together. It’s a FREE event, with the exception of lunches and dinners, where there are reservations required, with a charge for each meal. Music workshops also require pre-registration.
So, whether it’s music and live performances that you like, or southern cuisine like some of the area’s best BBQ, or getting more familiar with nature and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Townsend’s Winter Heritage Festival really answers the call to the Smokies-lover in all of us. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors, Townsend, and spend some time with the family.
Some of this year’s festival highlights include:
Festival Kick Off at the Blount Co. Historical Museum: Hear storyteller Charles Maynard, listen to live music with Pistol Creek Catch of the Day, view the various Civil War exhibits, and get refreshments at the kick-off celebration. Thursday, Feb. 2, 6-8pm.
Special musical guest:Wayne Erbsen
Come listen to the sounds of Wayne Erbson on Saturday evening, Feb. 4. He will also be presenting an Appalachian music workshop that afternoon. Call 865-448-6134 to sign up.
Mountain Dulcimer Workshop with Sarah Morgan: If you’ve ever had an interest in the dulcimer and its beginnings sign up for Sarah Morgan’s workshop Friday afternoon, Feb. 3. Call 865-448-6134 for details and to sign up. Limit 20.
Sarah Morgan holds her annual Mountain Dulcimer workshop.
Music of the Civil War: We know that there are always a number of Civil War enthusiasts among our visitors. It’s not always you get to hear the songs and music they went to battle to. This presentation includes tunes and songs with Conny Ottway at the Chocolate B’ar, Friday, Feb. 3.
Listen to a great Young Fiddler – Carson PetersCarson will be fiddlin’ up a storm with his family at the Mountain Music Showcase on Saturday. It’s a performance not to be missed!
Cast Iron Cooking by members of the Blount County Fire Protection District will take place Saturday, Feb. 4. Come by and taste some delicious cobblers, biscuits, beans and more!
Lunchtime Programs: at the Chocolate B’ar Cafe, with good food, talks, and music, both days. Friday: Conny Ottway, sponsored by Rocky Branch Community Club Saturday: Tommy and Tammi McCarroll with Bobby Fulcher, sponsored by The Chocolate B’ar. Call for lunch reservations, 865-448-9432.
Friday evening at Dancing Bear Lodge, with supper and entertainment by flute player Randy McGinnis. Reservations required. 865-448-6000.
Book-signing: Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures, Bill Landry; Noon to 3:00pm both days at the Townsend Visitors Center.
“Precious Memories” Homecoming with the Cades Cove Preservation Association on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 5. Location to be announced.
Full Winter Heritage Festival Schedule Day by Day:
Schedule subject to changes and for updates call 865-448-6134.
(Events with a * require pre-registration and those with meals have a charge.)
Thursday, Feb. 2:
At Blount County Historical Museum and Cades Cove/Thompson Brown Museum:
– 6-8pm: “Festival Kick-Off”, Blount County Historical Museum and Cades Cove/Thompson Brown Museum. Civil War Exhibit, refreshments, and 6:30pm storytelling by Charles Maynard, plus music by Pistol Creek Catch of the Day.
Friday, February 3: Events take place at several locations.
At Townsend Visitors Center:
– 9-9:45am: “Cora’s Story”, Cherel Henderson, East Tennessee Historical Society.
– 10-10:45am: “Preserving our Heritage-The Foothills Land Conservancy”, Elise Eustace, Foothills Land Conservancy.
– 11-11:45am: “Thomas Sumter”, Charlie Rhodarmer, Sequoyah Birthplace Museum.
– Noon-3pm: Book-signing by Bill Landry, Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures.
– 2-3pm: “Mountain Dulcimer Workshop” * with Sarah Morgan. To register, call 865-448-6134. (Free) Limit 20. Sponsored by Friends of the Smokies.
– 3:15-4:15pm: “Music of the Mountains”, Lisa Free.
– 4:30-5:15pm: “Black Leaders of Blount Co. during Reconstruction”, Robert Glenn Slater, University of Tennessee.
At Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center:
Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4:
– 9am-5pm: Cades Cove Preservation Association talks and Families of Cades Cove exhibits.
_______________
– 9-9:45am: “Bear Creek Tales”, Lonnie McMillan
– 10-10:45am: “A Cades Cove Long Rifle”, Stephen Weber
– 11-11:45am: “Horace Kephart-The Back of Beyond”, Butch McDade
– Noon (Lunch break)
– 1-1:45pm: “Living in the Cove”, Bernard Myers
– 2-2:45pm: “Sacred Places of the Smokies”, Gail Palmer
– 3pm: Panel Discussion, Cades Cove Preservation Association
At Little River Railroad Museum:
– 3-4pm: “Walking Tour of Townsend”, Don Headrick.
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Cades Cove:
– 1-3pm: “Hike to Gourley Pond” *, Ranger Mike Maslona. Meet at the Lequire family cemetery on the far side of the Cades Cove Loop Rd. *Call 865-448-6134 to sign up.
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Tremont:
– 9-11am: “Waterfall Hike”, Dawn Dextraze. Meet at the Tremont Visitors Center (office).
At The Chocolate B’ar:
– 11am-12pm: “Music of the Civil War”, Conny Ottway. Sponsored by Rocky Branch Community Club. Followed by lunch.
Call for lunch reservations * : 865-448-9433 or 865-448-9895.
At Townsend Artisan Gallery:
– 4-6pm: “Open House and Artist Reception”
At Dancing Bear Lodge:
– 6:30-8:30pm: Dinner and entertainment by Native American flute player Randy McGinnis. * Reservations needed: 865-448-6000.
Saturday, February 4: Events take place at several locations
At Townsend Visitors Center:
Mountain Craft Showcase:
– 9-9:45am: “Dollmaking”, Carolyn Gregory.
– 9:45-10:30am: “Pottery”, Carol Ware.
(Break)
– 11-11:45am: “The Forgotten Baskets of the Mountains”, Bill Alexander.
– 11:45am-12:30pm: “Blacksmithing”, Hugh Bowie.
Mountain Music Showcase:
– 1:30-2:30pm: “Appalachian Music Workshop”, Wayne Erbsen. * Call 865-448-6134 to sign up (free)
– 2:45-3:45pm: “Fiddlin’ Carson Peters Band”, Carson Peters and family
– 4-5pm: “The Mountain Dulcimer”, Sarah Morgan
The Mountain Craft and Mountain Music Showcases are funded by an Arts Build Communities Grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission and a sponsorship from Great Smoky Mountains Association for Wayne Erbsen.
– 11am for White Oak Sinks Hike, Butch Mcdade. 11am-3PM. Meet on Townsend Visitors Center front porch and carpool to trailhead.
– Noon-3pm: Book-signing by Bill Landry, Appalachian Tales and Heartland Adventures.
– 11am-5pm: Cast Iron Cooking Demonstration with members of the Blount County Fire Protection District.
– 10am-5pm: Cherokee Finger Weaving by Charaity Hubbard and Historic Weapons Display with David Hubbard.
At Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center:
Friday, Feb. 3 and Saturday, Feb. 4:
– 9am-5pm: Cades Cove Preservation Association talks and Families of Cades Cove exhibits.
Saturday, Feb. 4:
– 9-9:45am: “Smoky Mountain Bears, Bucks, and Wildflowers-A Video Presentation”, Kate Marshall
– 10-10:45am: “Bloomery Forge in Cades Cove”, David Ledbetter
– 11-11:45am: “A Park by Any Other Name”, Kent Cave and Raymond Palmer
– 12:00 (Lunch break)
– 1-1:45pm: “Noah and Sarah Brown Burchfield of Cades Cove”, Larry Sparks
– 2-2:45pm “Photographers and Photos of Cades Cove”, Missy Green
– 3pm: Panel Discussion, Cades Cove Preservation Association
At Little River Railroad Museum:
– 10am-12pm: “Tremont Walking Tour”, Ron Briggs.
– 3-4pm: “Logging Railroads of the Smokies” Rick Turner.
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Tremont:
– 10:30am-12:30pm: “Winter Tree ID Hike”, Ken Voorhis. Meet at the Tremont Visitors Center (office).
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park-White Oak Sinks Hike:
– 11am-3pm: “Hike to White Oak Sinks”, Butch McDade. Meet on the front porch of the Townsend Visitors Center and carpool to trailhead.
In Great Smoky Mountains National Park-Little Greenbrier/Walker Sisters:
– 11am-2:30pm: “Hike to the Walker Sisters Family and Friends Homesites”, Mark and Janet Snyder. Bring a sack lunch, drink, raingear, and good hiking shoes. There will be off-trail walking. Meet at the Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area.
At The Chocolate B’ar:
– 11am-12pm: “Old Time Mountain Music”, Tommy and Tammy McCarroll and Bob Fulcher. Sponsored by The Chocolate B’ar. Followed by lunch.
Call for lunch reservations *: 865-448-9433 or 865-448-9895.
At Townsend Artisan Gallery:
– 9am-4pm: “Open House and Demonstrations by Artists”
The phrase “Connecting people and nature in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park” is one you’re bound to hear often at the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont in Townsend, Tn. It suits the program well as it’s one that relies heavily on the experience of their students in nature.
The education programs provided by the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont celebrate the ecological and cultural diversity of the Smokies, while helping those that seek a greater understanding of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park itself. Through such programs as Wilderness First Responder courses, photo workshops, hiking adventures, and naturalist certification, the Institute is able to carry out its mission.
“Connecting people and nature.” What is the meaning behind it? What’s the Great Smoky Mountains Institute’s common thread? Who do we serve and how does motto connect with our programs?
Questions like these are constantly asked and expounded upon at the Smokies Institute. The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont believes that three strands make up its purpose and include a Sense of Place, Diversity, and Stewardship. These strands weave the thread that flows through each lesson and program offered.
The following are ideas and values that these themes represent:
Sense of Place
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a unique and inspiring place.
Wild places like the Smokies are important to the health of our planet.
Each of us is a part of our “home” ecosystem. These same “sense of place” attitudes should be transferred to our home ecosystem.
Diversity
There is tremendous diversity within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Smokies have been and continue to be affected by people of diverse interests and perspectives.
We can learn much about ourselves by living in a community with people of diverse backgrounds, philosophies, and cultures.
Stewardship
We have a responsibility for preserving and caring for the Smokies and places like it.
Preserving places like the Smokies means learning about their problems and working to help.
Our lifestyle and daily habits can be adjusted to have minimal impact upon the environment.
January – March: Attend classes on rug hooking, basketry, pottery, sewing, flat-picking guitar, among others. Townsend, Tn classes and workshops
February 2 – 5:Townsend’s Winter Heritage Festival in the Smokies is an event celebrating the human history, natural beauty, and cultural traditions of Townsend, Cades Cove, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Guests can enjoy a variety of presentations, storytelling, music, walks, exhibits, and tours—at the Visitors Center, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tremont, and other businesses and organizations around Townsend. Townsend Winter Heritage Festival
March 16 – 17: Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival is hosted by the Townsend Artisan Guild, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, and the Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau. This interactive fiber arts event connects the community with fiber arts activities. The festival will include Border collie sheep-herding, sheep-shearing, classes and workshops, arts exhibitions, educational demonstrations of fiber processes, spinning, weaving, needlecrafts, dyeing, hands-on projects with children and adults, Fiber Arts Market and more.
April 7:Herb and Wildflower Day, 9:00am—3:00pm. A tribute to the beauty and fascination of wildflowers, ferns, trees, and herbs. Visit with expert botanists, photographers, and naturalists. Buy locally grown plants, delicious baked goods, and fine hand-made pottery. Take a short walk in the woods or a longer exploration of a special place. Townsend Herb and Wildflower Day
April – December: The public are welcome to view the Arts and Crafts Exhibits and Demonstrations in the Visitor Center Exhibit Room. Visit with and buy directly from talented, local artists. Townsend Arts & Crafts Exhibits and Demos
May 4 & 5: 20th Annual Townsend Spring Festival and Old Timers Day. A heaping helping of your favorite bluegrass music, a Young Pickers Talent Contest, arts and crafts, Appalachian skills, wildflower walks and garden tours, storytelling, BBQ and other good food at the town’s annual Spring Festival and Old Timers Day. Townsend Spring Festival and Old Timers Day
May 18 – 20: Trout Fest. If you’re an avid fly fisher, or just into fishing, Trout Fest is like Sundance is to movie enthusiasts. That is, it’s a must see. It’s an annual fly fishing exposition and fund-raiser for Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department in Townsend, TN. Sponsored by the Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Fly fishing demonstrations and seminars by experts are given daily. Music, children’s activities, exhibits, and food are provided on the grounds. TroutFest
Townsend's Scottish Heritage Festival & Games is always a popular yearly event.
May 18 – 20: Smoky Mountain Highland Games. A celebration of Scottish Heritage at the foot of the Smoky Mountains with traditional games, a gathering of the clans, Scottish dance, music, and athletic contests. Smoky Mountain Highland Games
June 2: Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival. Enjoy the work of skilled artisans and see pottery being made at this juried show with 40 booths. There will be hands-on demonstrations by the featured a guest potter, plus special firings by Joe Frank McKee, hand building by Hugh Bailey, 30 potters booths, Children’s Tent with Carol Ware, music, and good food. Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival
September 28 & 29: 20th Anual Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day. The fall version of Townsend’s spring classic featuring some of your favorite bluegrass music, clogging, arts and crafts, sorghum molasses making and other Appalachian skills, artisan demonstrations, family activities, and good food. Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day
Wears Valley’s 2nd Annual Oktoberfest was a hit this past weekend as numerous people enjoyed the crafts, Civil War re-enactment, and all around Fall fun on the Peaceful Side of the Smokies. Here is just a sampling of scenes from the weekend festivities.
For a good, healthy dose of Appalachian history, you’ll want to be in Townsend, TN next month for the town’s 15th Annual ChristyFest, a celebration of southern heritage dating back to before the founding of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The dates this year are July 21 – 24.
ChristyFest is an annual festival inspired by the timeless Catherine Marshall novel “Christy”. It’s also a study and a celebration of Southern Appalachian history, culture, literature and music as people from all parts of the country come to Townsend, Tenn to celebrate this uniquely American way of life.
This year’s guest lineup includes Emily (Schulman) Webster from the original cast, Mike Hickman and Jo Doster, with more expected to join the list as the time grows nearer. Christy ran for 20 episodes over the course of 1994 and ’95 and earned actress Tyne Daly an Emmy award for her portrayal of Alice Henderson, a Quaker missionary woman in the series.
Emily (Schulman) Webster, far right, will be the featured guest at ChristyFest 2011. Webster, along with series favorites Kellie Martin, center left, and Tyne Daly, center right, are pictured in this early Christy cast photo.
This will be Webster’s first trip to ChristyFest, and her first visit back to Townsend since the filming of the series. Emily portrayed one of everyone’s favorite character’s, Ruby Mae Morrison. The red-haired young girl who loved and tried to imitate her beloved “Teacher” was an oft-cited part of the show in festivals past. Jo Doster is a festival favorite whose stories give life to the actors and actresses that made Christy such a success. As a Casting Director for the series, she is always great fun and lends insight into the series creation. Fan favorite Mike Hickman, “Birds Eye Taylor” will also be on hand to “skere the children and charm the ladies”! Actually the children love Mike, and he can be found on the last day of the festival leading the group on a farewell hike.
So, we’d love to have everyone come out to ChristyFest at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend, TN – an amazing, informative and family friendly vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains! For more information, or to register online just go to our website at www.christyfest.org.
May 20 & 21: Antique Outboard Motor Meet, Louisville Point Park, Louisville, TN. Displays of antique boats and motors, swap, sell. Contact Henry Champagney, 865-856-5853, h2champs@aol.com.
June 12-18, 2011 and June 19-25, 2011: Steve Kaufman’s Acoustic Kamps and Concert Series
Steve Kaufman’s workshops in flatpicking guitar, fingerpicking guitar, mandolin, Old Time Banjo, Bluegrass Banjo, Old TIme Fiddle, Bluegrass Fiddle, dobro, Mountain dulcimer, Songwriting, Vocal class and Bass. At Maryville College.
Fantastic concerts by the instructors each evening, held in the Clayton Arts Center. Maryville, TN.
Call 865-982-3808 for information or go to www.acoustic-kamp.com
February 3–6, 2011: Winter Heritage Festival
Winter Heritage Sponsors: Great Smoky Mountains Association, Big Meadow Campground, The Tennessee Arts Commisssion, Friends of the Smokies, Byron’s Printing, WBIR-TV, The Chocolate Bar shop, Dancing Bear Lodge, Trillium Cove Shopping Village, Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau
Saturday, March 12: Concert at Music Row of Maryville to benefit the Young Pickers Talent Contest. 1:00pm–5:00pm. $5 donation will go to awards for winners of the Young Pickers Talent Contest Sat. May 7 at the Townsend Spring Festival.
March 17–19, 2011: Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival
Fiber Festival Sponsors: Smoky Mtn.Feed and Pet Supplies, Bearly Rustic Cabin Rentals, Foothills Farmers Co-Op, Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau , Townsend Artisan Guild, Fine Arts Blount, PetSafe, EconoLodge Parkside, Miss Lily’s Cafe
March 18–20, 2011: Smoky Mountain Quilters Show and Competition, at Maryville College
Townsend, Tn and nature go hand in hand. With many events and attractions centered around the area’s more natural aspects, it’s no wonder that one of the more popular events is the annual Herb and Wildflower Day, Saturday, April 7. This Spring, Townsend’s Herb and Wildflower Day will be held at the Townsend Visitor Center, 7906 East Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, TN 37882, 865-448-6134. Some of the many things to do during the event include illustrated talks about wildflowers, herbs, and area natural history, naturalist-led walks in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, plus cooking demonstrations and classes centered around herbs, opportunities to purchase plants from area gardeners, as well as fresh baked goods, and pottery.
Calendar of Events 2011