Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area is celebrating Tennessee heritage with a list of events throughout January.
The new year kicks off with “Old Christmas: Militia Muster at Fort Watauga” from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 5, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Jan. 6. Learn about the European Christmas traditions immigrants brought to America including the Dutch Sinter Klaus and 12 Days of Christmas. Discover the English, German, Scotch-Irish and Dutch roots of the modern holiday celebration.
There are many hands-on workshops taking place as well. Learn how to spin wool, knit a scarf and weave. Experience how Appalachian frontiersmen read music although many of them could not read 2 – 4 p.m. Jan. 20. They achieved beautiful four-part harmonies through “shapes” that represented each musical note.
The Watauga Valley Fife and Drum Corps will be at Sycamore Shoals 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every Saturday. There will be free music lessons and musical experience is not necessary. The group is open to anyone ages 13 and up.
For more information on events, visit www.sycamoreshoals.tn.org.
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