Spring Planting Festival April 26

Plowing and planting with mule or horse drawn equipment is a highlight of the festival.

NPS

News Release Date: April 9, 2008

Contact: Steven Seven, 423.569.9778

Contact: Sue Duncan, 423.286.7275

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will be hosting the Eighth Annual Spring Planting Day Celebration on Saturday, April 26, 2008. The event will take place in the areas adjacent to the Bandy Creek Visitor Center and the Lora Blevins home place from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

In order to better preserve the historic landscape of the Lora Blevins farmstead this year’s festival will again be held at both the Bandy Creek area and the Blevins farmstead. Most of the planned demonstrations will occur in the open areas near the Bandy Creek Visitor Center. These planned demonstrations include spinning of sheep wool, woodcarving, chair caning, soap making, and basket weaving. The Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club will also be performing throughout the day at Bandy Creek.

Demonstrations scheduled for the Blevins farm will include blacksmithing and mule and horse teams working the field and planting sorghum seed. There are also plans for a display of several kinds of farm animals at the barn, a display on herbs and their uses, a demonstration on making fence palings and a display of historic photographs from the Lora family.

The Spring Planting Festival was begun in April of 2001 as a celebration of spring and as a cooperative effort involving our local park communities and neighbors. It has been a way to utilize our historic sites and fields within the park while preserving the cultural landscape. Visitors have an opportunity to see a bit of our ancestors’ way of making a living.

Parking for the Festival will be in the parking lots across from the Bandy Creek Visitor Center. Transportation will be available for those who choose to visit the planting site. Bring a picnic lunch and spend the day. Food will also be available for sale through the Jamestown Community Bank Relay for Life team.

Join park staff and volunteers as they demonstrate traditional crafts and skills associated with farm life and chores. The event is free of charge and open to the public, however, the festival may be cancelled in the event of inclement weather.

For further information, call Bandy Creek Visitor Center at [phone].