Townsend to host annual fall festival

TOWNSEND, Tenn. (WATE) - Townsend is set to host their annual fall festival at the end of September.

The foothills of the Smoky Mountains will come to life with bluegrass music, arts and crafts, time-honored traditions and Appalachian cooking at the Townsend in the Smokies Fall Festival and Old Timers Day

The festival, slated for Sept. 28 and 29, will provide an atmosphere where family and friends of all ages can Appalachian traditions.

“The festival provides an opportunity for our community to share the area’s history and heritage with families, friends and visitors. We all cherish our traditions, and there is no better way to celebrate them than to showcase them during the beautiful fall weather at the festival,”

said Kim Mitchell, Blount Partnership Tourism Director.

The event is free; parking is $10 per day with all proceeds benefitting the Townsend Volunteer Fire DepartTwo-day parking passes are available online at www.smokymountains.org for $10 or for $12 on site Friday.

Here's a little of what you can expect from the festival:

Music and Dancing

On Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. until after 9 p.m., musical performances are scheduled on stage inviting locals and visitors to bring lawn chairs from home and sit back, relax and enjoy the toe-tapping, mountain tunes. Bluegrass music will also resonate from impromptu jam sessions in all areas of the festival grounds.

A tradition of the annual spring festival is to highlight and showcase music with Appalachian roots. This year’s festival will present the unique sounds and musical talent of bands, including Carolina Bluegrass, Timberwinds, Sweetwater Grass, Blackberry Jam, Grandview Pickers, Brushfire, Rail Riders, Foothills Express and Jone Brothers.

Arts, Crafts and Appalachian Demonstrations

The festival grounds will showcase numerous art and craft booths, and local artisans will be demonstrating their talents while visitors watch. Among the many unique demonstrations will be cornmeal making, birds of prey, antique farm equipment, blacksmithing, cornmeal making as well as pottery sculptures, rug hooking, woodcarving and quilting.

In addition, visitors will have the chance to learn about the area’s natural history with the Cades Cove Preservation Association and walk through a replica of an old Appalachian church. The church replica at this year’s festival will be sponsored by Chilhowee Area Ministries.

Storytelling and Local Authors

Local storytellers will educate and entertain visitors of all ages at this year’s spring festival, delighting them with mountain stories that will paint a picture of Appalachian heritage.

The spring festival’s featured author is Roy Oliver who wrote Last Man from Tremont. He will sign on Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.