JANUARY 2008-DECEMBER 2008
200th CELEBRATION OF ANDREW JOHNSON’S BIRTH – Greeneville - Bicentennial of President Andrew Johnson’s birth will be December 29th, 2008. Community-wide celebrations will take place in his home of Greeneville, Tennessee throughout the entire calendar year of 2008. For a complete listing, go to http://www.nps.gov/anjo/parknews/index.htm
JANUARY 19-21
MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY – National Civil Rights Museum, Memphis – Each year the museum celebrates the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. A weekend filled with educational activities and motivational speakers. CONTACT: National Civil Rights Museum, 901-521-9699, civilrightsmuseum.org
MARCH 1-2 & MAY 3-4
FORT LOUDOUN STATE HISTORIC AREA GARRISON WEEKEND – Vonore – Visitors interact with living historians as they demonstrate a variety of tasks common to a frontier fortification, such as cooking, laundering, blacksmithing, and musket demonstrations. Other interpretations include an 18th century infirmary, daily life in an enlisted soldier's barracks, the Commandant's quarters and an 18th century Cherokee camp. CONTACT: Fort Loudoun State Historic Area, 423-884-6217, state.tn.us/environment/parks/FortLoudoun/index.shtml
MARCH 29-30 & OCTOBER 4-5
HISTORIC MANSKER’S STATION ENCAMPMENT – Goodlettsville – Watch woodworking, blacksmithing, cooking over the campfire, and bread-baking. Tour Mansker’s Fort and the Bowen Plantation House, built in 1787. CONTACT: Mansker’s Station, 615-859-FORT, manskersstation.org
MARCH 31-APRIL 1
SHILOH NATIONAL MILTARY PARK 145TH BATTLE ANNIVERSARY WEEKEND – Shiloh - Civil War reenactors will provide Union and Confederate camp scenes as well as infantry, cavalry, artillery, and other demonstrations. CONTACT: http://www.nps.gov/shil/
APRIL 9
CELEBRATE JOHN OVERTON’S BIRTHDAY – Travellers Rest Plantation & Museum, Nashville – The historic house will be open as you take a look at one of Tennessee’s most influential 19th century citizens. CONTACT: Travellers Rest, 615-832-8197, travellersrestplantation.org
APRIL 18-20
22nd ANNUAL AFRICA IN APRIL CULTURAL AWARENESS FESTIVAL – Memphis – Celebration featuring education, economics, fashion, arts & crafts, music, and cuisine. The 2008 honored country is The Gambia. CONTACT: Africa in April, 901-947-2133, africainapril.org
APRIL 30
CASEY JONES DAY – Jackson – Celebrates the 108th anniversary of the legend of Casey Jones, the world's most famous railroad engineer. CONTACT: Casey Jones Village, 731-668-1222, caseyjones.com
MAY 1-4
50th ANNUAL OLD TIMERS DAY FESTIVAL – Dickson – The theme for 2008 is “A Time to Celebrate History.” Includes everything from a liars contest to Miss Old Timers Talent Contest, parades, crafts and quilt shows, live entertainment, dancing in the street, and more. CONTACT: Rhonda Adams, 615-446-2349, dicksoncountychamber.com
MAY 17-18
SEIGE AT FORT WATAUGA – Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, Elizabethton – American and British re-enactors along with Native American allies from all over the southeast demonstrate life on the western frontier during the late 1700’s. CONTACT: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, 423-543-5808, sycamoreshoals.org
MAY 17-18
34th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF BRITISH & APPALACHIAN CULTURE – Historic Rugby – Continuous British Isles and Appalachian music and dancing, traditional arts & crafts demonstrations, storytelling, historic building tours, children’s activities, and delicious food. CONTACT: Historic Rugby, 888-214-3400, historicrugby.org
MAY 24
HALLOWED GROUND: A LANTERN TOUR OF THE STONES RIVER NATIONAL BATTLEFIELD – Murfreesboro – Visitors will appreciate the cost of war through the stories of soldiers, and their loved ones, who are buried in Stones River National Cemetery. A ranger will lead the group on a lantern walk through the cemetery and stop at several gravesites where volunteers portraying soldiers and civilians will share stories taken from the letters and diaries of the period. CONTACT: Stones River National Battlefield, 615-893-9501, nps.gov/stri
MAY 24
CORDELL HULL FOLK FESTIVAL – Byrdstown – Visit the modest birthplace of Cordell Hull, Father of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Enjoy bluegrass and gospel music, arts & crafts, clogging, and more. CONTACT: Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park, 888-406-4704, cordellhullmuseum.com
JUNE 7-8
SYCAMORE SHOALS NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL – Elizabethton – Come and discover the arts, music, dance, crafts, legends and stories of Native Americans. CONTACT: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, 423-543-5808, sycamoreshoals.org
JUNE 14-15
146th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATTLE OF PARKER’S CROSSROADS LIVING HISTORY & BATTLE REENACTMENT – Parker’s Crossroads – Visit the Civil War era living history camps or watch the battle reenactments. Includes the Parker’s Crossroads Battleground Chili Cook-off. CONTACT: Parker’s Crossroads Battlefield Assn., 731-986-2289, parkerscrossroads.com
JUNE 20-21
SECRET CITY FESTIVAL – Oak Ridge – Highlights the heritage of Oak Ridge and its role in World War II. Includes a children’s festival, historic displays, World War II re-enactment and tours of Manhattan Project sites. CONTACT: Convention & Visitors Bureau, 865-482-7821, secretcityfestival.com
JULY 4-6
JONESBOROUGH DAYS – Jonesborough – Patriotic celebration of the region’s heritage. Visit villages from different periods in time, see traditional handmade crafts, enjoy concerts, and children’s activities. CONTACT: Historic Jonesborough Visitors Center, 423-753-1010, jonesboroughtn.org
JULY 17-19
SCOPES TRIAL FESTIVAL – Dayton – Dramatic reenactment of the 1925 Scopes Evolution Trial held in the original courthouse. Crafts, food, car show, children’s area, music, and more. CONTACT: Dayton Chamber of Commerce, 423-775-0361, rheacountyetc.com
AUGUST 2-3
CHEROKEE DAYS OF RECOGNITION – Cleveland – Features traditional Cherokee dance, food and arts. Includes Cherokee traditional and fancy dancers, storytelling, living history demonstrations, and more. CONTACT: Red Clay State Historic Park, 423-478-0339
AUGUST 8-10
DAVID CROCKETT DAYS – Lawrenceburg – This pre-1840s rendezvous includes shooting competitions, traders, games, music, food, and more. CONTACT: David Crockett State Park, 931-762-9408, state.tn.us/environment/parks/DavidCrockettSP/
SEPTEMBER 6-7
GREAT ISLAND FESTIVAL – Vonore – Held in conjunction with the Ft. Loudoun 18th Century Trade Faire. Cherokee demonstrators, dancers, encampment, food, crafts, storytelling, and more. CONTACT: Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, 423-884-6246, sequoyahmuseum.org
SEPTEMBER 19-21
AFRICAN STREET FESTIVAL – Nashville – Includes music, poetry, fashion, children’s activities, art exhibits, food, African dancers, drummers, storytelling, and more. CONTACT: AACA, 615-251-0007, africanamericanculturalalliance.com
SEPTEMBER 26-27
TOWNSEND IN THE SMOKIES FALL HERITAGE FESTIVAL – Townsend – Celebration of mountain heritage and culture with bluegrass music, storytelling, arts & crafts, and more. CONTACT: Convention & Visitors Bureau, 800-525-6834, smokymountains.org
OCTOBER 4-5
NATCHEZ TRACE POW WOW – Historic Leiper’s Fork Village, Franklin – Features the life and customs of Native American Indians. Experience traditional dances, storytelling, arts & crafts, traditional foods, and more. CONTACT: Natchez Trace Pow Wow, 615-599-7347, natcheztracepowwow.com
OCTOBER 9-12
29th ANNUAL TENNESSEE FALL HOMECOMING – Norris – A celebration of Appalachian culture and heritage with old-time musicians, arts & crafts fair, traditional foods, molasses making, sheep herding, and more. CONTACT: Museum of Appalachia, 865-494-7680, museumofappalachia.com
OCTOBER 10-11
TENNESSEE HISTORY FESTIVAL – Nashville – A living timeline spanning over 300 years of Tennessee history from Hernando De Soto and the Woodland Indians to the Vietnam conflict and Desert Storm. CONTACT: Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, 615-741-5280, state.tn.us/environment/parks/Bicentennial
OCTOBER 10-12
HERITAGE DAYS – Rogersville – The festival showcases traditional music, storytellers, dancers, children’s events, demonstrations of pioneer skills, antique quilts, food court, and more. CONTACT: Rogersville Heritage Association, 423-272-1961, rogersvilleheritage.org
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