The 38th annual Mountaineer Folk Festival is sure to offer guests a weekend of traditional folk music, country cooking, pioneer skills demonstrations, craft booths and more on Sept. 9-11, at Fall Creek Falls State Park.
The festival celebrates the heritage of the Cumberland Plateau with cultural and educational opportunities for all ages. The three-day festival kicks off Friday, Sept. 9 at 7 p.m. with crafts and bluegrass and Appalachian-style music. Beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, will be pioneer demonstrations, music and storytelling, in addition to crafts and food booths. Storytelling, music and demonstrations will continue on Sunday, Sept. 11, with crafts and foods booths opening at 10 a.m.
Pioneer demonstrations will include molasses making and blacksmithing, among other time-honored skills. Two stages will highlight music and storytelling, with a number of groups and individual performers. Over 100 craft booths will display an array of handmade wares, including woodworking, wrought iron, folk art, soaps, candles, leatherworks and basket weaving. Tempting visitor’s taste buds, local non-profit groups will be on hand to serve home-style country cooking.
Making an appearance again this year is Kids’ Corner, which will be located in the courtyard area of the Recreation Hall on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and on Sunday, from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kids’ Corner gives children of all ages an up-close view of games, crafts and entertainment. There also will be a discussion about weaving wool using Angora rabbit fur.
The event is free and open to the public. Optional donations benefiting the Friends of Fall Creek Falls State Park organization can be made at festival entry points. The event is co-sponsored by Fall Creek Falls State Park, the Tennessee Arts Commission and the Friends group.
Fall Creek Falls State Park is Tennessee’s largest and most visited state park. The park encompasses more than 26,000 acres sprawled across the eastern top of the rugged Cumberland Plateau. Laced with cascades, gorges, waterfalls, streams and lush stands of virgin hardwood timber, the park beckons those who enjoy nature at her finest. Fall Creek Falls, at 256 feet, is one of the highest waterfalls in the eastern United States. Other waterfalls within the park include Piney Falls, Cane Creek Falls and Cane Creek Cascades. The park is located in Bledsoe and Van Buren counties, 11 miles east of Spencer and 18 miles west of Pikeville. It may be entered from Highway 111 or Highway 30.
For more information about the Mountaineer Folk Festival, please call the Betty Dunn Nature Center at (423) 881-5708. Call the Tennessee State Parks reservation line toll free at 1-800-250-8610 to make a reservation at the park’s inn or visit www.tnstateparks.com/FallCreekFalls.