Spend less time in the kitchen and more time with friends and family, while surrounding yourself with Tennessee’s natural wonders during this season of thanksgiving. Once again, Tennessee State Park officials have announced that all eight state park restaurants will be open Thursday, serving their annual Thanksgiving Day Feast.
Thanksgiving turkey and all the traditional trimmings, along with an assortment of desserts, will be available beginning at 11 a.m. until closing at state park restaurants across Tennessee. Selections and prices will vary depending on location, ranging from $11.95 to $15.95 (excluding drink and gratuity). Group reservations are recommended.
The Tennessee State Park restaurants serving Thanksgiving Day dinner are:
Kick off the holidays at Sycamore Shoals during the opening reception of its annual Winterfest Christmas Tree Exhibit and Art Show on Sunday, Nov. 27, from 1:30 to 4 p.m. Visitors can chat with local artists and view the ever-popular Fraser Fir exhibit, decorated by community organizations. Trees and artwork from the Watauga Valley Art League will remain on display in the museum during regular park hours throughout the month of December until Jan. 4. For more information call (423) 543-5808.
Slated for Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3, Sycamore Shoals’ Christmas at Carter Mansion is a candlelit evening in the oldest frame house in Tennessee, which will be decorated with bright greenery for the holidays. Enjoy music, refreshments, and costumed interpreters acting out scenes from an 18th century Christmas. The event will be held both days from 6 to 9 p.m.
Sycamore Shoals also will host a variety of Traditional Arts Workshops throughout November and December, including step-by-step oil painting, beginners spinning and shape-note singing. Traditional Arts Workshops are by registration only and must be pre-paid. For complete schedules or to make a workshop reservation, please call (423) 543-5808.
Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park attracts more than 305,000 people every year. The 85-acre site sits on the banks of the Watauga River where the Overmountain Men assembled in 1780 before marching to defeat the British in the Battle of Kings Mountain, a turning point in the Revolutionary War. The park features interpretive exhibits, events, a fitness trail and picnic facilities. It is located off U.S. Highway 321 in Elizabethton. Additional information about the park can be found on the park’s Web site at www.tnstateparks.com/SycamoreShoals.
Runners are encouraged to participate in the Cumberland Mountain Gobbler Gallop 11K on Saturday, Nov. 26. Sponsored by the Frostbite Running Club, the run is part of the Tennessee State Parks Running Tour – a unique fall and winter series of foot races with distances varying from 5 to 13 miles and serves as the oldest state parks’ running series in the nation. The Gobbler Gallop 11K is considered the “third” hardest course of the tour. For registration and more information contact Tony Cox at (615) 773-8785 or tcox@tntech.edu or visit www.imathlete.com for registration details.
Cumberland Mountain State Park is situated on the Cumberland Plateau – a segment of the great upland, which extends from western New York to central Alabama. It is said to be the largest timbered plateau in America. This 1,720-acre park was acquired in 1938 as a project of the Farm Security Administration to provide a recreational area for some 250 families selected to homestead on the Cumberland Plateau. For additional information about the park, please call (931) 484-6138 or visit the park’s Web site at: www.tnstateparks.com/CumberlandMtn.
Fort Loudoun will present an 18th Century Christmas celebration on Saturday, Dec. 3. Titled “Christmas 1757,” this annual event blends a festive holiday spirit with both educational opportunities and traditional entertainment. The event is free and open to the public.
The 18th Century Christmas event begins with a “roll call,” summoning re-enactment soldiers to their posts just as it would have been done 250 years ago. Throughout the day, costumed living history re-enactors will go about their garrison duties, while taking time to interact with visitors. Demonstrations of both crafts and skills also will be conducted, including cooking, laundering, blacksmithing and artillery drills.
Park visitors will get to see an 18th century infirmary, as well as soldiers’ barracks, the commander’s quarters and a Cherokee encampment. Throughout the day, soldiers will be commanded to sing Christmas carols and guests are encouraged to add their voices.
The daily schedule includes a Christmas church service, wassail tasting and a special candlelight tour of the fort. On this special occasion, the soldiers will perform a rare nighttime firing of the fort’s cannon. The Visitor Center and Museum at Fort Loudoun will be open throughout the program and light refreshments will be served just before the candlelight tour commences. The Fort’s gift shop and bookstore also will be open for visitors to find that unique Christmas gift.
Fort Loudoun State Historic Park is a 1,200-acre site on the location of one of the earliest British fortifications on the western frontier, built in 1756. Nearby were the principal towns of the Cherokee Nation including Tenase, namesake of our state, and Tuskegee, birthplace of Sequoyah. Today the fort and the 1794 Tellico Blockhouse overlook TVA's Tellico Reservoir and the Appalachian Mountains and are located one mile off Highway 411 on Highway 360 in Vonore.
For more information about the park or a complete schedule of events, please contact the Fort Loudoun State Historic Park office at (423) 884-6217 or visit the website at: www.tnstateparks.com/FortLoudoun.
Join Warriors' Path State Park for its Christmas on the Lake celebration, slated for Friday, Dec. 9, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The park will be decorated with Christmas lights, luminaries and a beautiful flagpole Christmas tree at the entrance of the park. As part of the festivities, children will get to make their own pinecone feeders and bird ornaments. There will be storytelling, acoustic music by Strangebrew and a visit from Santa! The park also will serve hot chocolate and cookies for all visitors. Event sponsors include Indian Path Medical Center and Niswonger Children's Hospital.
Warriors' Path State Park was named for the park's proximity to the ancient war and trading path used by the Cherokee. Since that time, the park’s land has known a long history of travelers and is still a pathway for modern-day outdoor enthusiasts. The 950-acre area was acquired from the Tennessee Valley Authority is 1952, to serve the people who live in or visit this section of Northeast Tennessee. It is situated on the shores of TVA's Patrick Henry Reservoir on the Holston River. For additional information about the park, please visit www.tnstateparks.com/WarriorsPath.
Tennessee's 53 state parks offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families, or business and professional groups. State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses. For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free 1-888-867-2757. For additional information, visit the website at www.tnstateparks.com.
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