Last day of the Winter Heritage Festival in Cades Cove and Townsend Tennessee

Fantastic lectures, moving presentations, beautiful guided hikes, and a change to meet and mingle with former Cades Cove residents - the Winter Heritage Festival in Townsend Tennessee had it all!

The icing on the cake is that the when this years Winter Heritage Festival started, the weather was just warming up so you had the chance to hike in comfortable weather and still see snow and waterfalls locked in ice.

The picture above was taken on the geological hike conducted at Tremont on Friday. This 2 mile guided hike took us through various rock formations, hemlocks, rhododendron and pines and where the leaves were down out onto stunning vistas.

Yesterday at the guided tour of the primitive Baptist Church cemetery it was 63 degrees and the only white in the perfect blue sky were vapor trails from jets flying so far away you couldn't even hear them.

It was also fantastic weather yesterday to walk around the Smoky Mountains Heritage Center and see the beautifully preserved and furnished Cades Cove era buildings and outdoor exhibits.

Inside the Smoky Mountains Heritage center in Townsend treat yourself to one of the best displays of Native American artifacts and an impressive collection of antiques for the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Today the program winds down but you can still choose from 2 fantastic programs.

Cades Cove Heritage Shuttle Bus Tour
1:00pm - 4:00pm: "Trip around the Loop with Special Guest, to be announced". Meet Cades Cove Heritage Tour in front of the Smoky Mountains Heritage Center. Call (865) 448-8838 for reservations.

We highly recommend this shuttle bus tour around Cades Cove. This is a great way to see the Cove for the fist time and even if you are a long term visitor of the Cades Cove, this is a great way to learn even more about Americas favorite cove.

Why fight traffic when you can sit back and be chauffeured around! The Shuttle bus is handicap accessible.

Programs at the Valley View Lodge
1:00pm - 4:00pm: "Precious Memories-Cades Cove Homecoming II", with music from 1-2pm by Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club followed by an informal and moderated session of remembrances by Cades Cove families.

This is also a great way for those of us who love Cades Cove to have an even deeper connection. The music alone is fantastic!

This years Winter Heritage Festival in Townsend was better than ever and jam packed with events - so many in fact I that often there were 3 programs I wanted to see all running at the same time.

Last minute cabin rentals to enjoy the festival get 10% off at American Mountain Rentals.

Winter Heritage Festival celebration of Cades Cove, Tremont and Townsend in full swing

Townsend Tennessee is the place to be this weekend of for historical, musical and education fun along with guided tours of Cades Cove, Elkmont and Tremont in the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

Experience the people of the Great Smoky Mountains national park, their music and all about their lives and have a great time doing it!

Listed below is the schedule for Saturday February 7th.

Programs at Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center

• 9:00 am -ll:00 am: "Growing Up in Cades Cove , With the Park" presented by Ruth Caughron Davis and Judy Myers Johns
• 1l:00 am -1l:30 am: "Growing Up" presented by questions and answers
• 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm: "Dulcimer Music" presented by Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club
• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: "Hiking the AT" presented by Debbie Way and Pam Reddoch
• 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: "North Carolina Smokies, the Other Side" presented by Allen Coggms
• 3:00 pm - 3:45 pm: "Peace of Ground" Video

Programs at Cades Cove (Meet at Primitive Baptist Church)

• 1:30 pm - 3:00pm: "Cemetery Stroll" with GSMNP Ranger Ann Schlichting

Programs at Cades Cove Heritage Tours

• 1:00 pm - 4:00pm: "Trip around the Loop with Special Guest, to be announced" Meet Cades Cove Heritage Tours at depot. Call (865) 448-8838 for reservations.

Programs at Hemlock Hall. Dancing Bear

• 9:00 am - 10:00 am: "Tuckaleechee Cove Archeology" presented by Dr. Boyce Driskell
• 10:00 am - 11:00 am: "Native American Flute Music" presented by Randy McGinnis
• 11:00 am - 12:00 pm: "Early History of Great Smoky Mountains National Park" presented by Steve Cotham

Programs at Little River Railroad Museum (All programs begin at the Museum)

• 10:00 am - l:00 pm: "Elkmont Tour" presented by Raymond Palmer
• 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm: "Tremont Walking Tour" presented by Ron Briggs
• 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: "Townsend Walking Tour" presented by Don Headrick
• 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm: "Whistle Over the Mountains" presented by Jim Thurston

Programs at Look Rock

• 4:00 pm - 5:30pm: "Photography from the Foothills Parkway" presented by Ann Froschauer. Meet at Look Rock Parking Area. (Inclement weather which is doubtful, meet at the gate at the Walland end of the Parkway)

Programs at Talley Ho Inn

• 8:00 am - 9:00 am: "Winter Stretch and Warm-up", Yoga/Pilates Class for all levels with Maria Talley.
• 10:00 am - ll:00 am: "Traditional Mountain Remedies" presented by Ila Hatter
• 1l:00 am - 12:00 pm: "Early Bird Gets the Worm" presented by Kim Hainge
• 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm: "Hills, Hollers, and Harmonies, Music of the Smoky Mountains" presented by GSMNP Ranger Lisa Free
• 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm: "Founding of a National Park" presented by Tom Harrington.
• 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm: "This Land of Change" presented by Mike Meldrum
  
• 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm: "Mountain Tunes and Tales" performed by, The Woodpickers

Programs at Wesley Woods

• l:00 pm - 2:00 pm: "History Hike in Capshaw Valley" with Bill Hayes. Meet at Tipton Lodge