Spring Planting and Music Festival

ONEIDA, TN — Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area will be hosting the 17th Annual Spring Planting and Music Festival on Saturday, April 29, 2017. Traditional arts and crafts as well as music will be included as part of the festival throughout the day. All interested artists and crafts demonstrators are invited to participate in this year’s festival. The event will take place in the areas adjacent to the Bandy Creek Visitor Center, the Lora Blevins home place and the Oscar Blevins farm site.

The Big South Fork is seeking demonstrators that emphasize the way of life when people depended on the land for their survival. Activities such as old-time toys, quilting, flint knapping, woodcarving, soap making, basket weaving, hand spinning yarn, old-fashioned embroidery, blacksmithing, plowing with mule and horse teams, planting sorghum seed, making wooden farming implements, bee keeping, canning, and basic gardening are among a few examples. All artists and crafters will need to bring their own tent, table, chairs and equipment.

Demonstrators will be placed throughout all locations to engage and teach visitors about their talents. Park rangers will also be providing educational programs during the day. All activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. and last until 4:00 p.m. EST.

For more information on how to sign up, contact Park Ranger Bill Herman at (423) 286-7275 or bill_herman@nps.gov. For further information on this special event as well as other events, call the Bandy Creek Visitor Center at (423) 286-7275 or visit the website at www.nps.gov/biso.