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.
Saturday, February 6 9am – 4pm
Saturday, February 13 9am – 4pm
Saturday, February 20 9am – 4pm
Saturday, February 27 9am – 4pm
Cost: $30 per class ($120 for all) plus supplies (supplies vary based on individual needs)
Limit: 10
Minimum: 4
This 4-part class delves into the beautiful and traditional 7-step chair caning method, a delicate and complex weave that forms an octagonal pattern. This type of caning requires a special type of chair with holes bored through the feet and back. Ask park staff for a supply list when you register. The first session of the class will involve measuring and sizing each chair to determine the type of cane needed.
Workshop: Watercolor Paint Instructor: Barbara Jernigan
Saturday, February 6 10am – 1pm
Cost: $12 (plus supplies) or $20 (includes supplies) Limit: open Minimum: 5
Learn and practice watercolor techniques and style. Dress to take a short walk outdoors for photos and observations, weather permitting.
Tuesday, February 9 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.
Homespun Storytelling Guild
Tuesday, February 2 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.”
Saturday, February 13 10am – 12pm
Cost: $10 (with supplies) or $5 (bring your own) Limit: 10 Minimum: 4
Learn the basic skills and terms of knitting, including cast on, purl, knit, cast off, and yarn over. Start on a project such as a scarf, washcloth, or blanket—or knit a quick gift just in time for Valentine’s Day! The $10 class price includes a pair of size 7 needles and practice yarn; additional supplies are available for purchase.
Living History – Militia Muster at Fort Watauga
Saturday, February 20 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Sunday, February 21 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Visit Fort Watauga and step into a colorful Revolutionary world. Re-enactors portray a variety of characters, from hunters and farmers to land speculators and backcountry gentry. Walk among colonists and native peoples who share their past through talks, mini-dramas, and demonstrations of 18th century life.
Saturday, February 20 10am – 3pm
Cost: $25 Limit: 15 Minimum: 5
Take something old and make something beautiful! Make a rug, table runner, placemat, or basket out of the fabric of your choice. Just bring some size Q (big) crochet hooks and two or three yards of any material, old or new. Basic crochet skills recommended.
Sunday, February 21 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, February 27 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.
Northeast Tennessee Autoharp Community & Old Time Group
Sunday, February 28
1:30 – 2:30 Autoharp & Dulcimer Beginners
2:30 – 4:00 Open Jam
Start on the basics on Autoharp & Dulcimer, then stick around for the open jam to show off what you’ve learned! Old-time musicians of all instruments and skill levels are welcome to play! This group meets on the 4th Sunday of the month, January through May and September through November.
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/