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From the Gatlinburg Special Events Office:
Gatlinburgâ€
s Bicentennial Celebration Continues with Old Timerâ€s Day at MountainFest TM
GATLINBURG – Local residents are invited to share their favorite family photos and gather to reminisce about their memories and recollections of the early days of Gatlinburg during Old Timerâ€s Day at MountainFest TM. Gatlinburgâ€s 2nd annual MountainFest TM – A Celebration of Our Heritage – kicks off Friday, August 17, with two fun-filled days of bluegrass and genuine Appalachian mountain music, along with crafters and demonstrations in the main event area near Traffic Light #3. The celebration takes center stage from noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, August 17 and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, August 18.
The event will feature storytelling, examples of childrenâ€s games, special demonstrations, husband calling and pig calling contests and a special panel discussion entitled “Remembering The Past,â€� featuring a gathering of resident seniors recalling the early days of Gatlinburg, which was born in 1945. “We invite Gatlinburgâ€s longtime residents to bring their family photographs and be a part of the Bicentennial Celebration by sharing their stories with their friends and family,â€� said George Hawkins, Special Events Manager for the Department of Tourism. “Weâ€ll have a videographer at the event to record the stories, and that video and scans of the photos will be included in the Bicentennial Time Capsule which will be incorporated into the new Anna Porter Public Library.â€�
A special area at the Pi Beta Phi Elementary School playground will be set aside for Old Timersâ€Day starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 18. Local crafters will demonstrate their skills as passed down from generation to generation, with pottery making, weaving, woodworking and glass blowing featured.
Entertainment will be featured throughout the festival on the main stage, highlighted by an appearance by Jimbo Whaley and Greenbrier at 9 p.m. on Saturday night. Bands scheduled to appear at MountainFest TM include: The Moonshine Boys, Smoky Mountain Rose, Smoky Mountain Four, The Tennessee Mountain Boys, Mike Grove and The River Road Ramblers, the Spring Lizards, Delmer Holland and the Blue Creek Ramblers, and the Lost Mill String Band.
On Saturday, August 18, listen as music talents of all ages playing fiddles, banjos, and guitars compete for awards and cash prizes in the Mountain Strings Competition in the stage area near Traffic Light Lot #3. Amateur guitar, banjo and fiddle players are invited to compete in their respective instrument and age categories beginning at 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. There is no entry fee to compete.
“We welcome musicians of all ages to enter and play,� said Hawkins. “This is a chance for musicians to get some exposure and a little bit of recognition for their musical talents.� Prizes will be awarded in multiple categories. An awards ceremony will be held for all categories at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 18, culminating with all winners playing one tune together.
MountainFest TM is sponsored by Knoxville Coca-Cola, AT&T, The Real Yellow Pages, and Best Western Twin Islands.
Jon H. Elder
Special Events Coordinator
Gatlinburg Special Events Office
Dept. of Tourism
303 Reagan Drive
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-0505 FAX (865) 436-3970
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