17th Annual Townsend Spring Festival: May 1--2, 2009
We had fun at our celebration of bluegrass music, arts and crafts, BBQ, Appalachian skills, and the beauty of the Smokies in the springtime.

Please use inside scroll bar on the right to view more information below.

There are still some  Festival T-shirts available!  These are real collectors items, with a silhouette of musicians on the back and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park 75th Anniversary logo on front and back.  $12.00 each.  Call 800-525-6834 to place your order.

Download the brochure: Spring Festival Brochure-09

The Young Pickers Talent Contest, on Saturday morning, is for acoustic bluegrass players ages 17 and younger. Click here for the registration form: Young Pickers 4-09
Sponsored by Pick 'N Grin, Steve Kaufman's Acoustic Kamp, Murlin's Music World, Rocky Branch Community Club, Digital Express, Chambers Audio Visual Services, and Pokey's.

Townsend Visitor Center
7906 E. Lamar Alexander Parkway
Townsend, TN 37882
865-448-6134

Spring Festival 2009 Photo Album:
(Most pictures are by Mary Grace McCaffery.)

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, Murlin's Music World, Pick N Grin, Kaufman Acoustic Kamps, Rocky Branch Community Club, Digital Express, Chambers Audio-Visual Services, Pokey's, Townsend Shopping Center, Village Market IGA, Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop, Woodland Homes, WIVK Radio, WBIR TV, The Daily Times, Bank East

Festival Schedule:

Friday, May 1:  "Great Smokies and Nature Celebration Day"

Special activities to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the beauty of nature.

• 9:00am-11:00am:  Wildflower Walk on Chestnut Top Trail with Tom Harrington; limit 25 (call 865-448-6134 to reserve a spot).  Meet Townsend Visitors Center.
• 10:00am:  Hedgewood Gardens Tour.  Meet Townsend Visitors Center.
• 11:00am: Clogging Demonstration and Instruction: Jack and Doris Patton at the Stage
• 1:00pm-5:00pm:  White Oak Sinks Hike (moderate) with Ann Froschauer; limit 15 (call 865-448-6134 to reserve a spot)  Meet Townsend Visitors Center.
• 1:00pm--4:00pm: Featured Author and Book-signing.  Steve Cotham, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, historic photos from the McClung Collection.
• 2:00pm:  Hedgewood Gardens Tour.  Meet Townsend Visitors Center.
• 7:20pm:  Steve Kaufman Concert.  At the Stage.

Plus, all of these favorite Festival events:
Bluegrass Music on the stage and pickin' on the porch and in the grove
7:20pm Concert by special guest Steve Kaufman, three time national flatpicking guitar champ
Arts and Crafts Booths along the Bike Path
"Smokin' in the Smokies" BBQ and other good food
Cake Raffles and Bake Sale for Hearts and Hands Scholarship Fund

Arts and Crafts Demonstrations in the Exhibit Room:
Basketry:  Bonny Kate Sugg
Woodcarving:  Lendel Abbott
Quilting:  Ila Mae Morton and Maetta Conrad
Rug Hooking:  Carol McBride
Weaving:  Effie Suttles
Spinning:  Dale Liles
Charcoal/Pencil Art:  Andy England
Antique Cars, Smoky Mountain Model A Club. In front of the Visitors Center

Appalachian Demonstrations around the grounds:
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
Blacksmithing: Hugh Bowie
Angora rabbits and spinning their fur: Sheri Liles
Cornmeal Making:  Ronald Fowler
Cades Cove Preservation Association Exhibits
Appalachian Bear Center Activity Booth

Saturday, May 2: "Old Timers Day"
Lots of activities for young and old.

• 8:30am-10:30am:  New!!! Young Pickers Talent Contest.  Bluegrass music contest for 17 years and under.  At the Stage.
• 9:00am-11:00am:  Young Folks' Program in the Storytelling Tent.  Games, music, stories, and more.
• 10:00am-5:00pm:  Old Fashioned Kid's Games.  In the field behind the Visitors Center.
• 11:00am-12:30pm: Old Harp Sing. Shape note music with the East Tennessee Old Harp Singers in the Storytelling Tent.
• 1:00pm:  Dowsing Demonstration with Charlie Monday.  Meet at the Storytelling Tent.
• 1:00pm-4:00pm:  Storytelling with Lendel Abbott, Robin Goddard, and Richard Hilten
• 4:00pm-5:00pm:  Old Time Music program with Carl and Betty Ross.  In the Storytelling Tent.
• 7:00pm:  Steve Kaufman Concert at the stage.
• 8:00pm:  Square Dance.

Plus, all of these favorite Festival events:
Bluegrass Music on the stage and pickin' on the porch and in the grove
7:00pm Concert by special guest Steve Kaufman, three time national flatpicking guitar champ
Evening Square Dance with caller Don Tipton and the Carolina Bluegrass Boys.  Stage area.
Arts and Crafts Booths along the Bike Path
"Smokin' in the Smokies" BBQ and other good food.  6:00pm People's Choice Awards at the Stage
Cake Raffles and Bake Sale for Hearts and Hands Scholarship Fund

Arts and Crafts Demonstrations in the Exhibit Room:
Basketry:  Bonny Kate Sugg
Woodcarving:  Lendel Abbott
Quilting:  Ila Mae Morton and Maetta Conrad
Rug Hooking:  Carol McBride
Weaving:  Effie Suttles
Spinning:  Dale Liles
Charcoal/Pencil Art:  Andy England
Antique Cars, Smoky Mountain Model A Club. In front of the Visitors Center
Antique Tractors and Engines, Foothills Tractor Club.  In front of the Visitors Center

Appalachian Demonstrations around the grounds:
Mountain Berry Basket Making and Poetry:  Bill Alexander
Lye Soap Making and Old Time Skills:  Sallie Swor
Pottery, Carol Ware
Bee Keeping and Bee Hive Observation:  Tony Holt
Blacksmithing: Hugh Bowie
Moonshine Still: Bill Leistner
Angora rabbits-spinning: Sheri Liles
Cornmeal Making:  Ronald Fowler
Cades Cove Preservation Association Exhibits
Appalachian Bear Center Activity Booth

Sunday, May 3:  "Tuckaleechee Cove Day"
A few extra activities to wrap up the festival and highlight the beauty and traditions of our mountain community: 

• 9:00am:  Wildflower Walk on Chestnut Top Trail with Dwight McCarter Limit 25 (call 865-448-6134 to reserve a spot).  Meet Townsend Visitors Center.
• 1:00pm-3:00pm:  Old Tremont History Stroll, led by members of the Little River Railroad Museum. Meet Townsend Visitors Center.
• 1:00pm-4:00pm:  Porch Pickin', Gospel Singin' with David Orr and friends, and old time jams.  On the porch and around the grounds. 
• 2:00pm:  Hedgewood Gardens Tour.  Meet Townsend Visitors Center.

The Townsend Spring Festival is an official event of the 75th Anniversary of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Click here to view our new Smoky Mountain Festivals website!  

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, Murlin's Music World, Pick N Grin, Kaufman Acoustic Kamps, Rocky Branch Community Club, Digital Express, Chambers Audio-Visual Services, Pokey's, Townsend Shopping Center, Village Market IGA, Wood-N-Strings Dulcimer Shop, Woodland Homes, WIVK Radio, WBIR TV, The Daily Times, Bank East