Townsend Vacation Guide

Join us at the Townsend Visitor Center as a Volunteer!

We depend on volunteers for the success of our Festivals and other events. There are a variety of ways you can share your time, talents, and skills.

Volunteers needed for upcoming events in 2012:

February 2--5: Winter Heritage Festival in the Smokies. A celebration of the human history, natural beauty, and cultural traditions of Townsend, Cades Cove, and Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A variety of presentations, storytelling, music, walks, exhibits, and tours-at the Visitors Center, Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tremont, and other businesses and organizations around Townsend. See www.smokymountains.org/winter-heritage.html

March 16--17 Smoky Mountain Fiber Arts Festival. Hosted by the Townsend Artisan Guild, Fine Arts Blount, and the Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau. This interactive fiber arts event connects the community with fiber arts activities. The festival will include Border collie sheep-herding, sheep-shearing, classes and workshops, arts exhibitions, educational demonstrations of fiber processes, spinning, weaving, needlecrafts, dyeing, hands-on projects with children and adults, Fiber Arts Market and more. See: www.smfaf.org

Saturday, April 7: Herb and Wildflower Day, 9:00am-3:00pm. A tribute to the beauty and fascination of wildflowers, ferns, trees, and herbs. Visit with expert botanists, photographers, and naturalists. Buy locally grown plants, delicious baked goods, and fine hand-made pottery. Take a short walk in the woods or a longer exploration of a special place. See www.smokymountains.org/info/herb_wildflower.html

May 4 & 5: 20th Townsend in the Smokies Spring Festival and Old Timers Day, 9:00am-10:00pm each day. Bluegrass music, Young Pickers Talent Contest, arts and crafts, Appalachian skills, wildflower walks and garden tours, storytelling, BBQ and other good food. See: http://www.smokymountains.org/info/spring_festival/springfestival.html

May 18--20: Trout Fest. A fly fishing exposition and fund-raiser for Great Smoky Mountains National Park Fisheries Department. Sponsored by Little River Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Fly fishing demonstrations and seminars by experts. Music, children's activities, exhibits, and food. See: http://www.troutfest.org

May 18--20: Smoky Mountain Highland Games. A celebration of Scottish Heritage with traditional games, gathering of the clans, dance, music, and athletic contests. See: http://www.smokymountaingames.org

Saturday, June 2: Smoky Mountain Pottery Festival. Enjoy the work of skilled artisans and see pottery being made at this juried show with 40 booths. There will be hands-on demonstrations by the featured guest potter, plus special firings by JoeFrank McKee, hand building by Hugh Bailey, 30 potters booths, Children's Tent with Carol Ware, music, and good food. www.smokymountains.org/pottery-festival.html

September 28 & 29: 20th Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timers Day, 9:00am-10:00pm each day. Bluegrass music, clogging, arts and crafts, sorghum molasses making and other Appalachian skills, artisan demonstrations, family activities, good food. See: http://www.smokymountains.org/info/heritage.html

Contact the Visitor Center to participate: 865-448-6134, 800-525-6834, or email: jhilten@smokymountains.org

Volunteers in Action: Put yourself in the picture!

Basketry demonstration