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Contact: Christopher Derman, (423) 569-9778
Oneida, Tennessee - Mark your calendars for the 25th Annual Spring Planting and Music Festival on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area. This beloved event offers a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the Appalachian way of life that has played such an important role in the history of the Big South Fork area.
Celebrating the traditions of early Appalachian settlers, the festival highlights the self-reliant practices of subsistence farming, a way of life that relied on the surrounding forest and passed down generations of knowledge, skills, and values. Visitors will enjoy live demonstrations of traditional crafts, including woodcarving, blacksmithing, beekeeping, textile weaving, hide tanning, and longbow hunting. Children and adults alike will be delighted by old-time toys, and farm animals.
Toe-tapping Mountain music will be performed throughout the day by talented local musicians, creating a lively and authentic atmosphere. A festival favorite, plowing and planting with mules, will take place at the Lora Blevins field, offering a rare glimpse into historical farming practices. Additional demonstrations will be hosted at the Oscar Blevins Farm Site.
This free, family-friendly event runs from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM (ET). Shuttles will transport visitors between key locations so they can enjoy all the festival has to offer. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket, relax, and spend the day immersed in music, history, and heritage.
Come celebrate this way of life with us as we provide memorable opportunities for you to experience this important part of our history. For more information about this event, click here: https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/springplanting.htm
About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 430+ national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at: WEBSITE FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE
Last updated: March 19, 2025