Just Country Band
photo by Earl Freudenberg
Ranger Shane Petty
photo by Earl Freudenberg
Broom making
photo by Earl Freudenberg
Home made mask
photo by Earl Freudenberg
Children are very much a part of the festival
photo by Earl Freudenberg
Dinner time
photo by Earl Freudenberg
Social distancing country style
photo by Earl Freudenberg
Pistol box
photo by Earl Freudenberg
Fall is in the air
photo by Earl Freudenberg
Clear blue skies and mountain fresh air provided a perfect day for the 43rd annual three-day Mountaineer Folk Festival at Fall Creek Falls State Park. The event started Friday and will continue Sunday all day.
The “Just Country Band” from Sequatchie Valley served up two shows along with a host of other live continuous entertainment.
Crafters came from all over the Southeast to display items for shoppers. Crafts included jewelry, Christmas items, trinkets and plenty of home baked goodies. Live Demonstrations feature sorghum - molasses, corn mill grinding, broom making, chainsaw carving, weaving and a 1917 stone grist mill.
There is plenty to eat with over one dozen food vendors from the area. Plates include B-B-Q and slaw or chicken and dumplings, green beans, pinto beans, mashed potatoes and corn. There are several delicious desserts including chocolate cake and several flavors of ice cream.
State Parks Chief Ranger Shane Petty rode in on his beautiful Tennessee walking horse “Dodge”. Children of all ages gathered around Dodge to have their picture made. Ranger Petty, who oversees every state park in Tennessee, has been attending this event for more than 25 years. He said, “This folk festival is dedicated to remembering things we use to do.”
Admission to the festival is by a parking donation of any amount. The proceeds go to help Friends of Fall Creek Falls raise $15,000 for cultural arts education this year.
The new Fall Creek Fall lodge and restaurant is expected to open next January. Fall Creek Falls State Park is Tennessee’s largest and most visited state park. It en compasses nearly 30,000 acres across the eastern top of the rugged Cumberland Plateau.