Step Back in Time at the Fall Heritage Festival

By Darryl Payne

We love our modern conveniences. All it takes is an unexpected power outage to remind us just how dependent we are on electricity. And what about communication? Most people wouldn’t know what to do if you took away their computers, cell phones or blackberries. Occasionally, though, we might like to go back in time to a life that moved at a slower pace. While there isn’t a magic time machine, a visit to the Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timer’s Day in Townsend, Tennessee will provide almost the same result.

The Fall Heritage Festival is held on September 26th and 27th at the Townsend Visitor’s Center, just 22 miles from Gatlinburg. For nearly 20 years this festival has offered visitors an opportunity to see what life was like years ago in the Appalachian Mountains. You can listen to bluegrass music, watch as crafts and artwork are prepared right in front of you and see experts demonstrate berry basket making, blacksmithing and more. The best part? Admission is free!

Enjoy the Entertainment

Bluegrass music is as much a part of the Smoky Mountains as the mountains themselves. Bring a few chairs or a blanket and prepare to hear local bluegrass sounds that will make it hard for your toes to stay still. The little ones will enjoy storytelling, games and a spelling bee. You'll even get to meet humorist and storyteller Sam Venable who will be on hand to sign books. Some of his works include Someday I May Find Honest Work and You Gotta’ Laugh to Keep From Cryin’. If all this fun leaves you hungry, don’t worry. Delicious barbecue plates, sandwiches and homemade ice cream are available for purchase. If that isn’t enough, the cake walks and bake sales will satisfy any sweet tooth.

Berry Basket Making

Never heard of berry basket making? Before the days of plastic bags and buckets, people had to find a creative way to hold those juicy huckleberries and blackberries that grow in the Appalachian Mountains. Berry baskets aren’t woven from straw and they don’t look like Easter baskets. Instead, they’re made from tree bark. Come see a demonstration by Bill Alexander, member of the Tennessee Basketry Association, to find out exactly how it’s done.

Blacksmithing

David Thompson is the owner and operator of an Oregon-based ironworks business. He’s internationally known and has over 30 years of experience in the art of blacksmithing. Take a look as he shows how this skill is not only used for the practical purposes of years gone by, but is used today to create beautiful works of art.

Spinning

Long before you could go into a store and buy cloth, much less clothes that were already made, spinning was done at home. At the Heritage Festival, live llamas will be on hand and you can see for yourself how their wool is spun into yarn, the same way it was done decades ago.

Everything You Could Imagine

In addition to the demonstrations already mentioned, the festival offers exhibits on ways to prepare southern favorites such as sorghum molasses, apple butter and cornmeal. Experts will also display their works of charcoal and pencil drawings, pottery, woodcarving, candle making, quilting and more. If it was done in the old days of the Appalachian Mountains, you’ll find it here.

Visit a much simpler time of life at the Fall Heritage Festival and Old Timer’s Day. The experience will give you a whole new appreciation for your computer and PDA!