tennessee – Page 3 – Smokies Guide

Arrowmont

Gatlinburg’s Arrowmont truly is a school of art education set against one of most ideal artistic backdrops – the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Arrowmont’s school of arts and crafts is a tool for anyone to make use of who wants to expand their art education. One- and two-week courses highlight the curriculum and artists the world over make up the school’s revolving faculty.

Located on a 14-acre residential campus in Gatlinburg, TN, Arrowmont offers a series of weekly classes. They include instructional courses in books, ceramics, drawing, fiber, metals/jewelry, mixed media, painting, paper, photography, warm glass, wood-turning, and woodworking.

Arrowmont is open year round. Browse the artwork of worldly artists in the school’s five galleries. The Marian Heard Library and Resource Center includes print and electronic materials and work is always on display from Arrowmont’s permanent collection there for those looking for more research opportunities. The Artist Outfitters Store provides all the art supplies and tools that a student might need.

Over the years a number of area schools in the Smoky Mountain region have benefited greatly from a sharing learning initiative offered through Arrowmont. ArtReach, a program in partnership with Sevier County Schools, gives 1,000 students from grades 4-12, the opportunity for a full day of in-depth, art classes at Arrowmont each year.

Arrowmont recently marked its 100th birthday as a center for art education in the Smokies. At first, Arrowmont taught area children from a general education curriculum in a settlement school setting. Before long though mountain handicrafts found their into the school’s teachings. These teachings were infused into each child’s regular education in order to preserve the skills of the residents whose livelihood depended on more agriculturally-based teachings. Arrowmont’s signature summer workshop program was launched in 1945 and the school welcomed people from all over the country who were interested in furthering their art education against the backdrop of the Great Smoky Mountains. Today, more than 130 classes in contemporary art and crafts are offered throughout the center’s seasonal sessions.

Arrowmont operates Monday – Friday from 8:30 am to 5 pm, and on Saturdays from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Hours expand to seven days a week during the spring, summer and fall workshops programs. During winter classes, the galleries, resource center and the book/supply store are also open extended hours.

Townsend Spring Festival & Old Timer’s Day

If you looking for a time or reason to come to Townsend, TN, every spring the town holds its annual Townsend Spring Festival and Old Timer’s Day. And if you’re looking for a literal melting pot of bluegrass, clogging, arts, crafts, BBQ, storytelling, and woodcarving, then you’ve come to the right place. All come together in a cornucopia of events and festivities at the foot of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Whether it’s a wildflower walk on Chestnut Top Trail, a book signing, or gardening tips and plant sales by the Trillium Cove Home and Garden, Townsend’s Old Timer’s day has something for everyone.

A typical festival day looks a little something like this:

10:00am: Hedgewood Gardens Tour

11:00am: Clogging Demonstration and Instruction

1:30-3:30pm: Wildflower Walk on Chestnut Top Trail

2:00pm: Hedgewood Gardens Tour

6:30pm: Knoxville Pipes and Drums Concert and Parade: Highland music in celebration of Scottish heritage.

7:30pm Concert: Special entertainment by “Six Mile Express” at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center.

On top of those typical, every day festival goings-on, visitors can hear bluegrass music on the festival stage till way past sun down. Guests can even bring their own instruments to the pickin’ porch. Arts and crafts are being made and sold throughout the day and BBQ pork and chicken, ice cream, deli sandwiches, hot dogs, kettle corn, and other good food are always being prepared…. Just be sure to stick around for the cake raffle and bake sale if you know what’s good for you.

A few of the Townsend Days artisans that have given demonstrations in years past include:
– Karen Kenst and Bonny Kate Sugg – basketry
– Lendel Abbott – woodcarving
– Maetta Conrad and Marcella Emrick – quilting
– Carol McBride – rug hooking
– Dale Liles – spinning on the great wheel

Stop by and make your own memories with an old fashioned portrait photo on the grounds near the annual family art fair. Art activities are led each year by the Townsend Artisan Guild.

One of the more unique aspects of the festival might just be the early-Appalachian demonstrations given around the Townsend Days grounds. Things like mountain berry basket making, bee keeping, cornmeal making, and oak shingle-making are just some of the well-attended demonstrations in years past. The festival’s oh-so-popular moonshine still and history of moonshine in the Great Smoky Mountains with Bill Leistner always draws a crowd. A festival favorite, Leistner actually demonstrates how to drink from a moonshine jug.

For those who just love bluegrass, there wouldn’t be a Heritage Festival & Old Timer’s Day without a heaping helping of local bluegrass. From clogging to cake raffles, to actual bluegrass performances by the likes of Deep River, Notchey Creek, Appalachian Bluegrass, Mike Clemmer, and Steve Jordan, the festival stage is always brimming with bluegrass tunes. Banjos, dobro guitars, harmonicas, and whatever else those early Appalachians strung together to make mountain music are strummed and played throughout the day. If anything, just come listen to some great Appalachian bluegrass.

One other highlight of the weekend is the Young Pickers Talent Contest held at the Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. This is open to all striving, young bluegrass musicians who are interested in performing before a crowd. Bring your own tune, or sing one of the classics. Either way you can’t go wrong and everyone here loves those young performers.

The Townsend Heritage & Old Timer’s Days festival occurs every spring and fall at the Townsend Visitors Center. It’s a celebration of the traditional bluegrass and mountain music, crafts, and heritage of Townsend, East Tennessee, and the Great Smoky Mountains.

On Cosby

Cosby, TN celebrates all that it is and has become every year each spring and fall called: On Cosby. And if you like local Smoky Mountain crafts, this is as good of a festival as the area offers. Crafters of all kinds selling their wares – from homespun crafts to local authors, you can easily lose track of the day going from booth to booth browsing through all the local goods.

On Cosby isn’t just for crafters, everyone from local politicians to nonprofit groups set up booths here. You definitely don’t want to miss the various culinary offerings at the On Cosby festival. Besides being a great local festival, On Cosby is held at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains.

Let me reiterate that the craft show is the major draw to the On Cosby festival. Featuring over 50 vendors each year, it’s an eclectic festival that incorporates both traditional mountain crafts and a number of items that would surprise you, and that are new to most. Crafters will still be heavy on popular sellers – lots of quilts, bears and log cabin home décor that are always sought out locally. You’ll also find Southern favorites such as the hillbilly wine glasses and paintings on old barn boards. The crafts-people at On Cosby are especially talented and it shows in their work. Things that you might discard become a work of art to some and an item that you may have not even thought twice about; it really is a “someone’s junk is another’s treasure” scenario. This past year, there was even a local author promoting and selling autographed copies of her book, the topic of which centers around the Smokies.

Being that it’s a small town festival, everybody who’s anybody locally is bound to show up. On Cosby’s back row of booths is a local politician’s dream that is only equaled by the number of nonprofit groups promoting their upcoming charities and trying to get people involved. Girls Scouts selling brownies and cupcakes is always a crowd pleaser, and why wouldn’t it be. Beside the girl scouts is a church youth group raising money for a trip, followed by people working for the Appalachian Bear Rescue. And while people continue to speak about the issues, gain signatures, and recruit volunteers, people are eating and the entertainment goes on.

You’ll find the main stage at the festival’s center, literally. Over the next three days, there will be more bluegrass played on this stage than you can shake a stick at. Gospel is big as well and always draws a big crowd to root on their favorite local group or singer.

Make sure to visit the moonshine exhibit as well and take a trip back to Cosby’s past. The festival’s presentation shows how Cosby became the moonshine capital of the Smokies.

Various food tents and booths align the front of the festival and rightly so as most are overcome by all the sensual smells upon entrance. Numerous foods to eat by hand as well as full meals make up theses tents, many with smoky wafting above. Soon, the smell of BBQ over takes your lungs followed by a buttery fragrance that signals the popping of popcorn, cotton candy not far off either. The breeze brings the sound of children lining up for delicious ice cream, despite the apparent coolness of the fall air. On Cosby is definitely a local festival not to be missed. Bring your appetite; a chair to relax in, feel free to dance and listen to the music; and bring the kids along for a weekend you’re sure not to forget.

Tennessee State Parks

The state parks in Tennessee range from the historic site to the recreation center located on the shore of a reservoir. Museums, historic buildings, educational opportunities, living history and much more await you in the state run parks of the state of Tennessee.

Davy Crockett Birthplace State Park – This is not only a great state park but it is a historic site as well. One of the homes that Davy Crockett grew up in is located inside the state park. It has been restored and gives you a glimpse into the man and the life of Davy Crockett. This state park contains, a small museum about Crockett, pavilions that can be reserved down by the Nolichucky River, a campground and a pool. Wonderful stop if you are touring historic sites in Tennessee or just a nice place to spend the weekend.

Fort Loudon State Park – Fort Loudon State Park is built on the site of the original Fort Loudon that protected the wilderness from Native American attacks and from the British during the Revolutionary war. Along with a fort that represents some of the best living history you will find, it also has lots of recreational activities. Boating, fishing, hiking trails, picnic areas and much more await you at this great state park.

Hiwassee / Ocoee State Park – At the southern tip of the Smokies is a park with some of the best kayaking and rafting you will ever find. One of the first rivers managed by the State Scenic River Program, this area offers all your summer water fun activities in one place. Also, you get to visit the Ocoee Olympic site. If you are a ‘yaker,’ this means that you can test your skills on a class 4 rapid called the Humungous.

Indian Mountain State Park – Located at the base of Indian Mountain, this state park has been developed on a piece of reclaimed mining land. A truly multiuse park, Indian Mountain is lush and verdant throughout most of the year. Boating, camping, hiking and much more draw thousands of visitors each year.

Panther Creek State Park – Panther Creek and Panther Springs are named for a legend. Supposedly, Colonel Bradley of Virginia shot a panther in the area and said panther fell into the spring. Fast forward to the 21^st century and you have a state park named for Panther Creek and sitting on the banks of the Cherokee Reservoir. Boating and camping are the activities that bring people to the area to explore this 1,435 acre state park.

Roan Mountain State Park – Roan Mountain provides some of the most beautiful views in the Southern Appalachian mountains. Cover in rhododendrons, exploring this mountain and this state park during the spring provides amazing color and photography opportunities that you will not find anywhere else. Add to that camping and cabins and much more and you have a beautiful place to spend the day or a weekend.

Sycamore Shoals State Park – Historic sites, a museum and a theater depicting the history of the area are just a few of the reasons to visit Sycamore Shoals State Park. Open from dawn to dusk every day, this quaint little park provides hiking trails and picnic areas along with tours of historic buildings.

Warriors’ Path State Park – Located on the trail that the Cherokee used for war and trading, Warriors’ Path State Park has lots of history and plenty of recreational activities for the people that visit it every year. Biking and camping bring in the visitors but in 2007, the park opened a new opportunity for those individuals with special needs: Darrell’s Dream Boundless Playground. This playground is designed for those children with special needs that get left out of the excitement in some traditional playgrounds. Warriors’ Path is a great destination when you are vacationing in the Smokies.

Great Smokies Flea Market

One of the great shopping destinations in the Smokies!

Who doesn’t love a flea market? In Sevierville, and in fact in the Smoky Mountains, one of the best and in fact one of the biggest is Great Smokies Flea Market! Located right off of exit 407 in Sevierville, this is a shopper’s paradise with tens of thousands of products and hundreds of vendors this is one of those spots. Everything from housewares to clothing and everything in between can be found beneath the roof of this retail paradise.

When you walk in the front door of the indoor part of the Great Smokies Flea Market, you are stepping into one of the best organized and best maintained flea markets in the southeast. The owners of the flea market keep out the riff-raff and and the vendors keep the consumers in the merchandise that they want. The booths in the inside section are well lit, handicap accessible and clean. This is not a dank, outdoor flea market, this is an indoor, heated and cooled mall. Once you are inside, pick a row and start browsing. A lot of the vendors on the inside are there weekend after weekend, month after month and they have been there for years. There is literally everything under the sun, under this roof: collectibles, movies, books, housewares, furniture, everything you can imagine and all at low cost prices.

Then you might want to venture outside. During season, you are looking at a place for lots of outdoor vendors and a farmers market. Aisles of produce, straight from the farm, landscaping, lawn furniture and outdoor tools. Along with all of these wonderful vendors, this is also the place where you will see vendors that might only be at the flea market for one weekend or for a series of weekends during the season. These outdoor areas are roofed and have clean wide walkways between them. The outdoor booths are a revolving door through which the Great Smokies Flea Market brings lots of new merchandise and even locals that are looking for a place to have a makeshift yard sale in a bigger venue.

Of course, as in real estate, the best part about Great Smokies Flea Market is location. When you come off of I-40 on exit 407 into Sevier County, you will take the first right hand turn. This puts you on Dumplin Valley Dr in Sevierville. Follow this road until you see the Great Smokies Flea Market, it will be on the right hand side of the road, don’t worry you will not miss it! Add the Great Smokies Flea Market to your places to stop while you are in the Smokies, don’t miss the shopping experience.

Great Smokies Flea Market
220 W Dumplin Valley Road
Kodak, TN 37764
865-932-3532

Dandridge, TN

“Tennessee’s Second Oldest City”

Dandridge is the second oldest city in the state of Tennessee. And though the Smokies do cast a shadow on this town, the Lake brings the sun out during the summer and brings in people from all over the area to fish, boat, ski and take advantage of one of the best man-made lakes in the area.

Dandridge, as a town was incorporated in 1793. It is the county seat of Jefferson County and was named after Martha Dandridge Washington. In 1942 when Douglas Dam flooded most of the farmland to the southeast of present day Dandridge, the town was almost lost due to the flooding – as it sits below the flood level of the dam. The TVA built a saddle dam to protect the town at the urging of then First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The town fathers of Dandridge petitioned her stating they were the only town named after the first, First Lady.

Over time, Dandridge has welcomed the business brought in by tourist to the Smokies that want to get out of the mountains and play in the water. Dandridge has a huge history including 5 of the oldest pubs in East Tennessee. The downtown area is a walk through a small town from the turn of the 20^th century and before. Exploring Dandridge, TN makes you feel like you have gone to Mayberry for the day.

Stats

2,721
997’ (average altitude)
36°1′43″N 83°25′26″W
Jefferson County, TN
townofdandridge.com

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Mast General Store – Knoxville

In 2006, a Smoky Mountain tradition joined the newly renovated downtown area of Knoxville, TN – the Mast General Store. The Mast General Store is what it was to people back in the turn of the century a store, carrying general merchandise and those things from our homespun past that bring back tons of great memories. This addition to the downtown scene in Knoxville has brought visitors to the area that may not have stopped by before and the ability to walk into a great store, carrying amazing merchandise is a perfect in downtown Knoxville.

The Mast General Store in Knoxville is located on Gay Street. This is one of the main roads that run through the middle of downtown. Gay Street passes right next to Market Square, in front of the Tennessee Theater past many a Knoxvilian’s favorite restaurants and late night hangouts. Parking was at one time an issue in this typical downtown area but now, especially at night and on the weekends, parking is free and the walk to and from your car will let you window shop and enjoy the sights and sounds of Knoxville.

When you pass through the doors of the Mast General Store you will be overwhelmed y the sheer volume of the merchandise that they have on display. From clothing to home wares, from candy to dry goods and even those items you need to strike out on the trail, you will find yourself walking the aisles of the Mast General Store for hours. On the main level you are going to find a great selection of clothing for both men and women, homewares and the best candy selection in East Tennessee. The candy area is a draw for children both young and old. There rae bins and barrels and boxes of candy of every shape and size. They also have a lot of candies that you might not have seen in years. Some of the classic candy selections include: BB Bats, Black Licorice Pipes, Kits, Sky Bars, Squirrel Nut Zippers and many more. Daily, people take their taste buds on a walk down memory lane in the candy section of the Mast General Store.

Downtown at the Mast General Store in Knoxville is a hikers paradise. Footwear to the right, backpacks to the back and hiking gear scattered on every surface. Watches to wallets, shorts to sleeping bags, you will find everything you need to tackle the trails in the GSMNP. Buy yourself a backpack and load up on all of the essential gear. Of course, the best thing about the Mast General Store is the fact that the employees use the gear they sale and they will point you in the right direction for the items you need for your day hiking or any other outdoor activity in the Smoky Mountains.

Pay a visit to the Mast General Store in Knoxville, TN. It is a step back in time, it is a great shopping experience, it is a place to walk down memory lane. It is in the middle of one of the great downtown revival sin East Tennessee. Make the Mast General Store a destination on your vacation.

Mast General Store – Knoxville
402 South Gay Street
Knoxville, TN
865-546-1336

Bloomin’ BBQ & Bluegrass Festival

When you think of local spring/summer festivals, the images of mouth-watering food and great music seem to always be prevalent. Nowhere is that more the case than in Sevierville, Tennessee every May when the town closes its downtown streets for two days in anticipation of the oh-so-yummy Bloomin’ BBQ & Bluegrass festival.

Its racks upon racks of pork, brisket, and chicken drenched in some of the nation’s premiere barbeque sauces. Bloomin’ BBQ & Bluegrass attracts some of the greatest grillers from around the country to downtown Sevierville, as well as a number of other vendors who follow the barbeque circuit. Take a break between pork sandwiches and watch the mascot parade and dance competition on Friday evening. Kids get their chance to grill as well in the annual Knoxville TVA Employees Credit Union Kids’ Que… It’s a new generation of rib racks and sauce!

You’ll also find a variety of new food vendors, funnel cakes, and various deserts for sale to go along with your barbeque, and plenty of great new entertainment on the festival stages. In years past, crowds have listened to the musical stylings of bands from Blue Moon Rising and Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier to the legendary Sam Bush, and it’s all been absolutely FREE.

On the business end of the grill, barbeque masters such as the Carolina BBQ Company, Carolina Rib King, and Smoky Mountain Smokers – last year’s grand champion, have competed yearly for Bloomin’s top prize. You’ll also come across local establishments like Evelyn’s Ice Cream, The Diner and Tony’s Kettle Korn cooking what they’re best known for – exceptionally great food. In all, these are just a few of the vendors that will be on hand offering some of their best recipes over the weekend.

There will be plenty of hands-on Que’ing going on at the festival’s annual BBQ Boot Camp. This usually occurs in the days leading up to the Bloomin’ Barbeque Festival. Visitors can come and talk barbeque secrets, and pick up a few tips and tricks for backyard BBQing, advanced BBQ smoking and even learn some new summertime dessert recipes! BBQ Boot Camp classes are taught at the Rel Maples Institute for Culinary Arts at Walters State Community College in Sevierville, TN. This new facility offers state-of-the-art kitchen facilities rivaling major cooking schools nationwide

Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass is a family-oriented festival that celebrates the beauty of the Smoky Mountains, great barbeque and lively bluegrass music. Bloomin’ Barbeque & Bluegrass is a part of Sevierville’s Smoky Mountain Springfest. Bloomin’s Barbeque cook-off is an official barbeque championship of the state of Tennessee and is coordinated by the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce.

Smoky Mountain Highland Games

Local Scots converge on Maryville, TN every year to hoist and toss such things as logs, stones, and even haggis, during the annual Scottish Festival and Games at Maryville College.

The event has transformed over the years from a small local event in Gatlinburg to a sprawling festival on the campus of Maryville College in Maryville, TN. All Scots are invited for the opening night Scottish whiskey tasting on campus before participating in a weekend of Scottish music, athletic events, and Pipe Band performances.

On Saturday and Sunday beginning at 8:30 a.m., the Scottish Games will feature professional and amateur athletes competing in many different events including tossing the Scottish haggis, turning the caber, Highland wrestling and the manhood stones. Kids can event participate too during the scaled down kids games where they’re challenged to toss a smaller version of the caber, as well as haggis.

The Scottish dog parade and talent show usually follows a worship service and a massed bands/parade of tartans presentation on Sunday, which is open to anyone who purchases a ticket and brings their dog on a leash. Meanwhile, dancing, athletics, children’s activities, and various talks are going on throughout the day.

Bands like Cutthroat Shamrock, Colin Grant-Adams, and Thistledown Tinkers have provided entertainment over the years as well.

Each of the pipe and drum bands compete in individual and band events for prize money during the festival. Highland dancers from across the country compete as well. Each year more and more Scottish Clans are represented at the festival to assist guests in finding their Scottish heritage. Scots can find everything they need here with vendors offering such things as Scottish clothing to a sampling of Scottish foods.

For more information or the schedule of events for this year’s Smoky Mountain Scottish Festival and Games, call 865-368-2543.

History of Sevierville

To fully understand the history of Sevierville and its beginnings, you must go back to time when the Native American Indians roamed the Great Smoky Mountains, more specifically those of the Cherokee Nation.

What our history books tell us is that during the 1700s, the Cherokee Indian tribe was the only Native American group that called Tennessee their permanent home. Not only had the Cherokee claimed the eastern, as well as central portions of the state to use as hunting grounds, they had also come to refer to themselves in their native language as the “Principal People.” Some argue that these Cherokee were a detached Iroquoian tribe that settled the region located at the doorsteps of the Smoky Mountains. This tribe included Native Americans who John Sevier fought in order to protect European settlers in and around Sevierville.

Sevierville is named after John Sevier, one of the most famous figures in the history of the state of Tennessee. Known as a frontiersman, soldier, war hero and politician who served under George Washington in the American Revolution, Sevier became renowned for his role in the battle of King’s Mountain.

Sevier was elected as the first governor of the State of Franklin in 1785 – a new state that was established on the land around Watauga, in Johnson City, Tn. The State of Franklin was eventually annexed to North Carolina and Sevier was accused of treason for going against the annexation of Franklin.

Eventually, Sevier recovered and ascended to a higher office, that of the governor of Tennessee. Sevier was Tennessee’s first governor, serving from 1796 until 1801 when the State of Tennessee was formed, and again from 1803 to 1809. Sevier even served as a Tennessee state senator from 1809 until 1811 and followed that up as a member of the US House of Representatives in 1811. You could say that Sevier was “loosely” involved in politics for a good portion of his life.

Sevier, Nicknamed “Nolichucky Jack” for his Nolichucky River exploits, died in Georgia during a boundary negotiation with Creek Indians in 1815.

To many, Sevierville is known as the original birthplace of country music. These southern mountaineer songs are considered by a growing group to be the only true folk music ever produced by the European immigrants to America. Most go back as far as the British ballads of the 1700s.

English Musicologist, Cecil Sharp, said in Smoky Mountain Country by North Callahan that he was tremendously taken with the people who settled the Appalachian Mountains, their strong character, their individuality, the isolation and its effects upon them and their music. The mountain people were sheltered by rugged mountains from the rest of the world and by this very condition, he concluded, they had retained in all its purity the most lyrical folk music in the world.

Today, music inspired by the Smoky Mountains and the Sevierville countryside is recognized around the world. One of the most prolific and well known musicians of this genre hails from Sevierville – country music artist and philanthropist Dolly Parton. One of 12 children born in Locust Ridge, Tennessee, Dolly has remained faithful to her mountain roots, even as her international fame continued to grow. After opening her Dollywood theme park, which helps preserve mountain music and crafts while creating jobs for area residents, she also began the Dollywood Foundation, which funds many charities in the Sevier County region and Tennessee including the Books from Birth program.