Ranger-Led Events

Each year, the park offers a number of special programs to help you explore and learn about the park. Come tap your toes to old-time music at the Music of the Mountains festival, enjoy stories of bygone days at the Festival of Christmas Past, or marvel at the park's beautiful wildflowers at the Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage.

 

Smokies Harvest Celebration

October 8 & 15, 2022
Take a glimpse into the past and join us on the Mountain Farm Museum at Oconaluftee Visitor Center on Saturday, October 8^th and 15^th, from 10AM – 3PM. Share in some of the traditional fall pursuits that were an important part of rural life in these southern mountains. Enjoy interactive demonstrations such as sorghum-processing, blacksmithing, apple cider pressing, broom-making, fiber arts and textiles, folk remedies, woodworking, and much more! All activities are free and open to the public.

 

"Granny Franny" shares mountain herb lore at the Festival of Christmas Past.

NPS Photo

Wildflower Pilgrimage

April 26-30, 2022

The Smoky Mountains are a haven for spring wildflower enthusiasts. Join us for hikes, walks, lectures, and programs (both indoors and outdoors) on natural and cultural history. Search for salamanders, learn about aquatic insects, visit an air quality monitoring station, go on wildflower, fern, or tree identification walks...and more.

Music of the Mountains

Check Back for Dates in 2023

The Music of the Mountains festival was created to share the rich musical traditions of the Southern Appalachians with our park visitors. Enjoy traditional Appalachian music during this two day event held at Sugarlands Visitor Center and in Townsend, TN.

 

Junior Ranger Day

To Be Determined

Children and their families can join in a variety of free, hands-on activities including ranger-guided walks, historic toy making, visiting a blacksmith shop, and exploring touch tables with animal skins, skulls, and scat. Information about specific programs is available at each visitor center. This year's theme will be "Find Your Park." Children can earn their Junior Ranger badge by completing three of the specially-planned activities.

 

Colorful quilts hang on display at Cosby in the Park.

NPS Photo

Women's Work Festival at the Mountain Farm Museum

Check Back for Dates in 2023
A woman's work is never done! Join us to learn about the vital role women played in creating and maintaining a mountain home. Demonstrations of open hearth cooking, spinning or sewing, corn shuck doll making and more.

 

Enjoy traditional Southern Appalachian music at the Mountain Life Festival.

NPS Photo

Festival of Christmas Past

Check Back for Dates in 2023
Join us to celebrate Christmas in the mountains with old-time music, harp singing, storytelling and reminiscing, craft demonstrations such as weaving, spinning, quilting, basket making, historic toys and games, and children's activities.


Holiday Homecoming
Check Back for Dates in 2023
Enjoy an old-fashioned Christmas celebration in the Smokies with traditional music at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center