Townsend, Tennessee Winter Heritage Festival to Highlight History of the Smokies, Appalachian Heritage

Wednesday June 23, 2010
awarded the “Award of Distinction” from the East Tennessee Historical Society, in its first year (2007).

          WHAT:      Townsend and Blount County, Tennessee will once again explore the history, heritage

       and the spirit of the Great Smoky Mountains with the Second Annual Winter     

       Heritage Festival, which was awarded the "Award of Distinction" from the East

       Tennessee Historical Society, in its first year (2007).

                             The event is an in-depth look into the rich heritage of the Great Smoky Mountains and

                             Cades Cove community, and it is designed to celebrate the development, culture,

                             history, and heritage of the area.  Through classes, tours, exhibits, music, hikes, and

                             demonstrations, visitors can experience:

• Stories of mountain life and families of the Smokies
• Logging and railroad days
• Illustrated talks and displays about people and the land
• History, stories, and plant lore of the Cherokee Indians
• Mountain music, dance, and crafts
• Cades Cove guided walks
• Creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park
• Civil War in the Smoky Mountains
• Exhibits at Townsend Visitor Center, the Heritage Museum, Little River Railroad Museum, and Blount County Historic Trusts

WHO:          The Smoky Mountain Convention & Visitors Bureau, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Great Smoky Mountains Association, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, Tremont, Little River Railroad Museum, Cades Cove Preservation Association, and other community groups and businesses in the Townsend, Tennessee area have all worked together to make this event possible.

WHEN:          Thursday, February 7, 2008:

Evening Kick-off Reception at the Dancing Bear Lodge

Friday, February 8, 2008: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sessions at several locations in Townsend; evening programs and exhibits to be announced, and Townsend area restaurants featured.

Saturday, February 9, 2008: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Sessions at several locations in Townsend; evening programs and exhibits to be announced.

                                    Sunday, February 10, 2008:  afternoon programs of music and other sessions

WHERE:        The four-day event will be held at various locations throughout Townsend, including the Townsend Visitors Center, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Townsend is located in East Tennessee and is a gateway to the Cades Cove entrance of Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the most visited national park in the county.

CONTACT:   For more information, please contact Jeanie Hilten at the Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau at -800-525-6834, or (865) 448-6134. 

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