Cosby in the Park Festival

Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced the annual “Cosby in the Park” festival to be held on Saturday, May 21, at the Park’s Cosby Campground. “Cosby in the Park”, in its 12th year, is presented by the Cocke County Partnership, Great Smoky Mountains Association, and the Park. The event celebrates the cultural heritage of this area and highlights the many recreational opportunities available in the Cosby section of the Park. The event is free to the public and is scheduled between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

“Each year we take this opportunity to celebrate the life and culture of the people who lived in this area,” said Kent Cave, Supervisory Ranger at Sugarlands Visitor Center. “We are looking forward to another year of music, cultural demonstrations and fellowship in Cosby during this beautiful season,” he said. The festivities take place in the campground amphitheater and picnic area, both located along the Cosby Campground entrance road. Free parking for attendees will be provided in campground Loop B.

A full day of activities is planned that include Southern Appalachian music, hikes, and demonstrations on local history, blacksmithing, quilting, corn shuck dolls and crafts, old time toys, natural foods and medicinal plants, and other folk arts. Sack races and other games and crafts are planned for children and families to enjoy.

This year there will be some additional focus on the Civil War sesquicentennial with a history talk at 12:30 pm. “As the country begins to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War we are pleased to have noted Cocke County historian Duay O’Neil presenting on the topic again this year,” Cave said.

The scheduled activities are:

Amphitheater Stage (Allan Goss, Master of Ceremonies):

•10 am - 11 am: Lost Mill String Band
•11am - 11:30 am: Honoring of the Carver Family
•11:30 am - 12:30 pm: Mountain Strings
•12:30 pm - 1:00 pm: Duay O'Neil: Civil War in the Cosby Area
•1:00pm -2:00 pm: Boogertown Gap Band
•2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: Steve Mayfield and Susie Reynolds
•3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: The Green Family Band

Hikes:

•Seeking Edible and Medicinal Plants along the Cosby Nature Trail, 1.5 miles moderate, 11:30 pm – 1:30 pm, Ila Hatter (meet at amphitheater area)

•Hike to Ella V. Costner Grave. 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm. Moderate in difficulty. Meet at Cosby picnic area pavilion. Leaders: Shane and Judy McGaha/Alma Williamson

For more information on additional events and activities, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com