Great Smoky Mountains National Park “Womens Work” Day Saturday, June 17, 2017

Nancy Larson demonstrates an antique sock knitting machine.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park “Womens Work” Day Saturday, June 17, 2017. On Saturday, June 17, Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host the annual Women’s Work Festival at the Mountain Farm Museum. This event honors the vast contributions made by the women of Southern Appalachia showcasing traditional work led by women on mountain farms in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The event is from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Demonstrations among the historic buildings will include hearth cooking, soap making, corn shuck crafts, and spinning. Exhibits of artifacts and historic photographs will provide a glimpse into the many roles of rural women. The Davis-Queen house will be open and available for touring and will highlight an audio presentation of memoirs collected from last child born in the house.

In addition to the Women’s Work Festival, visitors will also be treated to a music jam session on the porch of the Oconaluftee Visitor Center. Music jam sessions are held every first and third Saturday of the month on the porch from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

All activities are free to the public. The Mountain Farm Museum is located on U.S. Highway 441 adjacent to the national park’s Oconaluftee Visitor Center, 2 miles north of Cherokee, North Carolina. For additional information call the visitor center at 828-497-1904.

The next event at the Mountain Farm Museum is the annual Mountain Life Festival on Saturday, September 16, 2017.

Art sale to benefit Wears Valley Ranch Saturday June 10, 2017

Find the perfect piece of art for your home at the Wears Valley Ranch Art Sale!

Art sale to benefit Wears Valley Ranch Saturday June 10, 2017. Local artisans and residents of Wears Valley Ranch will offer unique crafts and art at a sale in beautiful Wears Valley, Tennessee. Wears Valley Ranch, a non-profit organization, is celebrating 25 years of service to children from families in crisis situations.

The event, scheduled from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the ranch which is located between Pigeon Forge and Townsend, just off Wears Valley Road at Lyon Springs Road, will feature vintage goods, innovative crafts, jewelry, furniture, pottery and a variety of food and live music. Behind-the-scenes ranch tours will be offered at 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Make plans now to enjoy a fun day in a delightful setting while helping to raise funds for a worthy cause.

For GPS directions to the ranch use 3601 Lyon Springs Road, Sevierville. To learn more about Wears Valley Ranch go to ART.

HeySmokies.com blog owner puts spare change to good use!

                                    Shelter gains $10,000.00 to help area animals.

HeySmokies.com blog owner puts spare change to good use! Brad Knight, the owner of HeySmokies.com recently presented Pets Without Parents a donation check bringing the amount donated by HeySmokies.com up to $10,000.00. For the past two years the Sevierville company placed donation boxes inside Sevier County businesses to collect spare change from locals and visitors who generously contributed to help reach this milestone.

That spare change has been put to good use at the animal shelter which offers a refuge to many pets who otherwise would be homeless. Pets Without Parents is Sevier Counties only no kill animal facility.

“I am honored to help Pets Without Parents,” said Brad Knight, “this donation program helps with a portion of the shelters monthly expenses which can exceed $10,000.00.”

Sevier County Relay for Life slated for Friday, June 2, 2017.

Sevier County Relay for Life slated for Friday, June 2, 2017. The Annual Sevier County Relay for Life, which celebrates cancer survivors and honors those who have lost the battle, will be held from 4 p.m.-midnight, at Patriot Park on Friday June, 2 2017. This free, family-friendly event also raises money to fund research that will someday find a cure for the disease that ranks as one of the nation’s biggest health problems. Come cheer those who have been affected by cancer whether they have been diagnosed 10 days or 10 years. A survivors lap will honor and inspire those facing a cancer diagnosis, and a caregivers lap will recognize the selfless act of those caring for cancer victims.

Help the fight to find a cure June 2, 2017 at Patriot Park!

A ceremony featuring luminary bags representing loved ones lost to cancer will provide an opportunity to grieve while offering comfort. Participants will walk continuously to signify that cancer never sleeps. Campsites are available around the park and food and beverage vendors are also scheduled to help with fundraising. Activities, music and entertainment is scheduled throughout the event.

Appalachian Bear Fest promises to be a “Beary Good Time!”

Appalachian Bear Fest promises to be a “Beary Good Time!”  A good time is waiting for your entire family at the Appalachian Bear Rescue’s first “Appalachian Bear Fest” on Saturday, June 3, 2017 from 2pm-7pm at Trillium Cove Shops (121 Trillium Way) in Townsend, Tennessee. Admission to the event, concerts and parking are all free!

Entertainment will include Laurel Wright (from Maryville) of The Young Fables, and the musical talents of Eli Fox, Jared Hard, Chris Long, Lucy Rose George, Pacer Fisher and Joe Ferguson.
Local authors, Richard Way, Sonja Hill, and Mark and Fran Smith will be on hand to sign copies of their books, and area artists and artisans will offer unique hand-made merchandise for sale.

Kids will love the opportunity to meet Charles the famous pig, appearing at his first book signing event, and learn the amazing story of how he survived the Gatlinburg wildfires. Charles will be available for photos and kids can also take home a “hoofsigned” copy of his inspirational book of survival.

A bear den hike with Joey Holt begins at 9 a.m. You may pre-register for this event by visiting abrTN.org. Information on bears and other wildlife found in the Great Smokey Mountains will be available at booths manned by staff from the Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and Appalachian Bear Rescue.

You never know who will join you at the Appalachian Bear Fest!

Youngsters, ages 7-12, can earn a Junior Curator badge from ABR curators and take home an ABR ear-tagged cub by participating in one of two Junior Curator classes scheduled at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Pre-register for these classes (which requires a $20 donation to ABR cubs) by visiting abrTN.org.

A kids carnival will offer a variety of games for youngsters and adults can enjoy an antique tractor display.
Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and spend the afternoon and learn all the “bare facts” about bears while listening to great music and enjoying food provided by some of Knoxville’s finest food trucks.