Date: April 20, 2011
Contact: Howard Duncan, 423-569-9778
Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will be hosting the Eleventh Annual Spring Planting Day celebration on Saturday, April 30, 2011. The event will take place in the areas adjacent to the Bandy Creek Visitor Center and the Lora Blevins home place from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.
In order to better preserve the historic landscape of the Lora Blevins farmstead, the festival will be held at both the Bandy Creek area and the Blevins farmstead. Some of the planned demonstrations and craft vendors that will be located near the Bandy Creek Visitor Center include quilting, flint knapping, woodcarving, chair caning, soap making, ribbon embroidery, chicken scratch embroidery and basket weaving. The Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club will be performing throughout the day at Bandy Creek. There will be an antique tractor display in the field across from the Bandy Creek Visitor Center.
Demonstrations scheduled at the Blevins farm will include blacksmithing and mule and horse teams working the fields. Children will be delighted by a display of several kinds of farm animals at the barn plus goat cart rides. Other displays set up near the Lora Blevins house will include traditional herbs and their uses, farm equipment, a demonstration on making fence palings, and historic photographs from the Blevins family.
Because of limited space, for visitor and demonstrator safety, and to preserve the historic feel of the planting site, private vehicle access to the Lora Blevins Farm will be restricted. Parking for the festival will be in the parking lots at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center. Transportation will be available from Bandy Creek to the Lora Blevins farm for those who would like to visit the planting site. Plan to spend the day enjoying the many activities. Picnic facilities are available at Bandy Creek, and food will be available for purchase from a local vendor.
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 or certain demonstrations cancelled in the event of inclement or severe weather.
For further information, contact the Bandy Creek Visitor Center at (423) 286-7275.
