Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area Calendar of Events
Traditional Arts Workshops are by registration only and must be pre-paid.
Call (423) 543-5808 for more information.
Saturdays 10am – noon
The Fife & Drum Corps performs at historical events, dedications, and parades. This group is open to anyone ages 12 & up. Musical experience is welcome but not necessary. Just come with a willingness to learn! Meet our volunteer coordinator John Large at the Sycamore Shoals Visitors Center for Saturday practices.
Watauga Valley Art League August Show
Month of August
Opening Reception: Saturday, August 7 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Each year, the August show features a new and intriguing theme. Please call the
park for information on this year’s theme. Exhibit can be viewed during regular park hours.
8th Annual Elizabethton Butterfly Count
Sunday, August 1 9:00 am & 1:00 pm
Meet naturalist Don Holt at Sycamore Shoals for this day-long winged adventure across town. Come for all or part of the day. Sponsored by the North American Butterfly Association & Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area. (Rain Date: Saturday, August 7.)
Homespun Storytelling Guild
Tuesday, Aug. 3 6-8 pm
Dedicated to preserving stories, tales, and folklore in a relaxed and informal setting. Come and hone your skills in the age-old art of storytelling. The guild will meet at the Carter Mansion on Broad Street Extension. Come join us as we “continue the front porch tradition, one story at a time.”
Carter Mansion Celebration & Militia Muster
Saturday, August 7 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday, August 8 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Join us for two days of history, music, and fun at the Carter Mansion, the oldest frame house in Tennessee. Travel back to the 1770s…the American colonies struggle against Britain, and the Patriot frontiersmen gather together to celebrate Independence. See local craftsmen demonstrate traditional skills such as natural dyeing and colonial cooking.
Tuesday, Aug. 10 9:30 am – 1 pm
This gathering of spinners and fiber artists is open to anyone interested in the art of spinning. Join us at 9:30 am on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
Workshop: Step-By-Step Oil Paint Instructor: Kay Braswell
Saturday, August 14 9am – 4pm
Cost: $50 (includes supplies) Limit: 15 Minimum: 6
Discover oil on canvas through wet-on-wet painting techniques. Beginners are welcome—learn Bob Ross techniques for painting—or come to improve the skills you already possess.
Shape Note Singing with Don Wiley
Sunday, Aug. 15 2 pm – 4 pm
Shape note singing is an early musical tradition in which various shapes represented each note of the do-re-mi scale. We invite you to join The Old Fields Singers—listen or sing along—and make this rich tradition your own.
Workshop: Pine Needle Baskets Instructor: Pam Etheredge
Saturday, August 21 9am – 2pm
Cost: $35 Limit: 6 Minimum: 2
Craft a delicate basket out of coiled pine needles in the tradition of our region’s Native American artisans, who used common materials to make beautiful and functional works of art. Basket size will vary based on the maker, but will generally be around 3” in diameter. Bring a pair of scissors—all other materials provided.
Workshop: Step-By-Step Oil Paint Instructor: Kay Braswell
Friday, August 27 9am – 4pm
Cost: $50 (includes supplies) Limit: 15 Minimum: 6
Discover oil on canvas through wet-on-wet painting techniques. Beginners are welcome—learn Bob Ross techniques for painting—or come to improve the skills you already possess.
Workshop: 18th Century Blacksmithing Instructor: Mark Ramsey
Saturday, August 28 9am – 4pm
Cost: $85 (includes supplies) Limit: 6 Minimum: 4
Blacksmithing for beginners or the more experienced—let us know your level when you sign up!
Workshop: Natural Dyeing Instructor: Carolyn DeWitt
Saturday, August 28 10am – 4pm
Cost: $25 Limit: 10 Minimum: 2
Make beautiful color with all the bounty of nature. Learn to dye thread as colonial settlers might have during the 18th century. Create stunning colors with the herbs and flowers of the field.
Park offices will be closed all state holidays.
For more information or to register for workshops, contact:
1651 West Elk Avenue
Elizabethton, TN 37643
(423) 543-5808
www.tnstateparks.com/SycamoreShoals/