16th Annual
Townsend in the Smokies
Spring Festival & Old Timers Day

April 25-27 and May 2-3, 2008

Townsend Visitor Center
7906 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway
Townsend, TN 37882
865-448-6134
Don't miss this celebration of bluegrass music, arts and crafts, good food, Appalachian skills, and the beauty of the Smokies in the springtime!

Please use inside scroll bar on the right to view more information below, and stay tuned as we post details of events.

Thank you to our Festival Sponsors:  Knoxville Coca-Cola, Great Smoky Mountains Association, "Bear"ly Rustic Cabin Rentals, the Carriage House, Dogwood Realty, L.L.C., Parkside Realty Services, Little River Realty, Kinzel Springs, Tennessee Real Estate, Townsend Great Smokies KOA, Big Meadow Campground, Townsend Shopping Center, Village Market IGA, Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop, Woodland Homes, WIVK Radio, WBIR TV, The Daily Times, Bank East

On the Weekends of the Festival:
Bluegrass Music and Jammin'
Appalachian Demonstrations and Exhibits
Antique Engine and Tractor Show:  April 25-26
Antique Cars: May 2-3
Arts and Crafts Booths
Food Booths, including "Smokin' in the Smokies" , People's Choice Bar-B-Que Contest May 2-3
Wildflower Walks and Hikes

Featured Authors and Book-Signing
Storytelling
Appalachian Demonstrations:
Mountain Berry Basket Making and Poetry:  Bill Alexander
Lye Soap Making and Old Time Skills:  Sallie Swor
Bee Keeping and Bee Hive Observation:  Tony Holt
Cornmeal Making:  Ronald Fowler
Cades Cove Preservation Association Exhibits
Clogging Demonstration and Instruction: the Pattons
Other Activities:
Clogging Lessons
Old Fashioned Kids' Games
Ijams Nature Center
Dowsing Demonstrations
Cades Cove Preservation Association Exhibit
Cake Walk and Bake Sale: Hearts and Hands Scholarship Fund 
Arts and Crafts Demonstrations in the Exhibit Room:
Basketry:  Bonny Kate Sugg
Woodcarving:  Lendel Abbott
Quilting:  Ila Mae Morton, Dorothy Belcher, and Maetta Conrad
Rug Hooking:  Carol McBride
Weaving:  Effie Suttles
Spinning:  Dale Liles
Charcoal/Pencil Art:  Andy England
Download the Spring Festival Brochure: Spring Festival brochure

Schedule, in addition to above activities (Subject to change, so please call 865-448-6134 or 800-525-6834 for updates):

Please, No Pets.

Friday, April 25:  "Nature Celebration Day"
Special activities in and about the great outdoors, plus music, crafts, and Appalachian skills.

• 9:00am-11:00am:  Chestnut Top Trail with Dwight McCarter; limit 25 (call 865-448-6134 to reserve a spot).
• 10:00am:  Hedgewood Gardens Tour
• 12:00noon: Clogging Instruction and Demo, with Jack and Doris Patton
• 1:00pm-5:00pm:  White Oak Sinks Hike with Jim Burbank; limit 15 (call 865-448-6134 to reserve a spot)
• 2:00pm:  Hedgewood Gardens Tour

Saturday, April 26:  "Young Folks' and Family Day"

Special activities for children and family fun, plus music, crafts, and Appalachian skills.

• 10:00-5:00pm:  Old Fashioned Kid's Games
• 10:00-5:00pm:  Ijams Nature Center Booth with animals and hands-on exhibits
• 10:00am-5:00pm:  Bill Lea, Cades Cove photographer, book signing
• 11:00am-12:00pm:  Young folks' stories and music, Faye Wooden
• 1:00pm-4:00pm:  Storytelling with Lendel Abbott, Faye Wooden, and Dwight McCarter

Sunday, April 27:  "Tuckaleechee Cove Day"

Special activities to highlight the beauty and traditions of our mountain community, plus music, crafts, and Appalachian skills.

• 9:00am--11:00am: Walker Valley Ramble with Dwight McCarter
• All afternoon:  Porch Pickin', Gospel Singin', and old time jam sessions
• 11:00am-1:00pm: Special trip to Tuckaleechee Caverns (fee)
• 1:00pm--4:00pm:  Pottery Demonstration with Carol Ware
• 2:00pm:  Hedgewood Gardens Tour
• 4:00pm--6:00pm:  "Shadows of the Past" guided bicycle ride with Tim Patterson, "Cycology"

Friday, May 2:  "Great Smoky Mountains National Park Day"

A day of appreciation of the beauty, diversity, and history of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and surrounding natural areas, plus music, crafts, and Appalachian skills.

• 10:00am-4:00pm: Traditional mountain music with Carl and Betty Ross
• 10:00am:  Hedgewood Gardens tour
• 2:00pm:  Hedgewood Gardens tour
• 1:00pm:  The National Parks Centennial, presentation by Emily Jones
• 3:00pm-5:00pm:  "Birth of the National Park" walk with Ann Froschauer

Saturday, May 3:  "Old Timers Day"

A tradition of picnics, music, relaxing, and remembering the olden days in Cades Cove and Townsend in the morning, plus music, crafts, and Appalachian skills.

• 8:00am-10:00am: Townsend Bird Walk with Mark Dunaway
• 10:am--5:00pm:  "Bird Songs of the Smokies CD signing, Mark Dunaway
• 6:00pm:  ""Smokin' in the Smokies"  People's Choice BBQ awards