18th Annual Spring Planting and Music Festival
Final preparations are underway at Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area for the 18th annual Spring Planting and Music Festival on Saturday, April 28, 2018. The festival celebrates the coming of spring and the Appalachian way of life that has been such an important part of the history of the Big South Fork area.
In addition to the plowing and planting demonstrations, the event will feature nonstop music from some of the region’s most gifted musical talents, children’s activities, interpretative talks, vendors demonstrating and selling their wares, and food sales. There will be activities at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center area, the Lora Blevins home site, and the Oscar Blevins farm and shuttles running between the three sites every 15 minutes to allow visitors to experience all the activities.
Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and enjoy a great day of good food and music! This free event starts at 9 a.m. (ET) and goes until 4 p.m. A designated bus parking area is available for large groups.
For further information, call the Bandy Creek Visitor Center at (423) 286-7275 or visit the website at https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/springplanting.htm for a full event schedule.
A diverse range of the region’s most talented live music acts are currently scheduled to perform. Musical genres represented are to include bluegrass, traditional Appalachian, singer-songwriter, Americana and a flute circle.
Music Time Location Performer
All Day Lora Blevins Farm Smoky Mountain Flute Circle
All Day Lora Blevins Farm Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club
10:00 a.m.-3:00 pm Oscar Blevins Farm Gerald Hanwright
9:30 a.m. Bandy Creek Big Tent Clawhammer Banjo & Guitar
10:30 a.m. Bandy Creek Big Tent Ronnie Lowe
11:30 a.m. Bandy Creek Big Tent Amazing Grace Baptist Church
Youth
12:30 p.m. Bandy Creek Big Tent Higher Ground
1:30 p.m. Bandy Creek Big Tent Spirit Winds
2:30 p.m. Bandy Creek Big Tent Sammie Suggitt
3:30 p.m. Bandy Creek Big Tent Ghosts of Gatewood
In addition to the music performances, there will be plowing and planting demonstrations, children’s activities, interpretative talks, fun runs, bird watching walk, vendors demonstrating and selling their wares, and food sales. Event activities will occur in the Bandy Creek Visitor Center area, the Lora Blevins home site, and the Oscar Blevins farm, and shuttles will run between the three sites every 15 minutes to allow visitors to experience all the activities.
