Annual Music of the Mountains Festival Scheduled

Great Smoky Mountains National Park will hold its 10th annual Music of the Mountains celebration Friday, April 25 through Sunday, April 27. This event now spans an entire weekend, with performances of traditional music in neighboring communities, including an entire day of free music at the Sugarlands Visitor Center on April 26th.

The three-day event begins with a concert of Celtic music by The Good Thymes Ceilidh Band on Friday at 7:00 p.m.at the Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center in Townsend, Tennessee. General admission is $5. Music of the Mountains continues on Saturday with a series of free performances of old-time mountain music at the park's Sugarlands Visitor Center. Programs are planned from 10:00 a.m. through 4:00 p.m. The park will welcome back the world famous Roan Mountain Hilltoppers – a family that has been playing traditional music for generations. The band will play two sets at 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.

New this year, in celebration of National Junior Ranger Day, Music of the Mountains will present a special Junior Ranger Program led by Boogertown Gap at 1:00 p.m.in the Sugarlands Training Room. Kids will learn how to play the spoons and the washtub bass.

The Bluegrass music of Outta' the Blue can be heard on the plaza outside of the Ripleys Aquarium of the Smokies on Saturday evening from 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. The Sunday afternoon program at the Smoky Mountain Visitor Center in Cosby, Tennessee will feature traditional Appalachian religious music with an old fashioned community sing along from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. General admission is $4.

The schedule of events:

♦ April 25 - Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Townsend Admission: $5 7:00 p.m.– Celtic Music by The Good Thymes Ceilidh Band

♦ April 26- Sugarlands Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park Admission is free:

• 10:00 a.m. Lost Mill String Band .
• 11:00 a.m. Boogertown Gap
• 12:00 Noon Brien Fain
• 1:00 and 2:00 p.m. Roan Mountain Hilltoppers
• 3:00 p.m.Mountain Strings

Special Program for Junior Rangers at 1:00 p.m. Join Keith Watson and Ruth Barber of the band Boogertown Gap in the Sugarlands Training Room (below the restrooms) and learn to play the spoons and the washtub bass. This hands-on program is a part of National Junior Ranger Day celebration.

♦ April 26 - Plaza at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies, Gatlinburg Admission is Free 7:00 p.m.- 8:30pm – Outta' the Blue

♦ April 27- Smoky Mountain Visitor Center, Cosby Admission: $4 2:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.– "Heritage, Harps and Hymns" – traditional offerings from Cocke County

If planning to attend the events in Townsend, also known as the “Quiet Side of the Smokies”, you may want to note that it's much easier getting in and out of the park, and is fairly close to Cades Cove. If you need a cabin rental during your visit, be sure to visit our Townsend Accommodations page.

If planning to stay in Gatlinburg, don't forget to visit our Gatlinburg Accommodations page before making any reservations!


Jeff
Hiking in the Smokies