Mountaineer Folk at Fall Creek Falls

Thirty-four years ago Susan B. Anthony dollars entered circulation, CBS debuted "Dallas" and a group of artists created the first Mountaineer Folk Festival at Fall Creek Falls.

Three and a half decades later, the Susan B's are long gone and "Dallas" has been on hiatus long enough to make a comeback. But each September since that first festival, campers and craftsmen have returned to the state park to celebrate life on the Cumberland Plateau.

"It's got a really faithful following," says Stuart Carroll, a ranger naturalist at Fall Creek Falls. "We've got good music and we've got good food and that brings the crowd."

The festival, which will run Sept. 7-9, features broom making, spinning, weaving, molasses making, pottery turning, a Civil War encampment and plenty of cooking, music, art and handmade crafts.

"What we try to do is exemplify the old-time Cumberland culture," Carroll explains.

The brooms and fried pies are popular, but the artists' handiwork is what brings in most of the guests. "All of the crafts are definitely handmade," says Marcia Quinn, nature center volunteer with the Friends of Fall Creek Falls. "There's nothing bought."

Carroll says many of the park's 244 campsites are already booked, but nearly half of the sites are first-come, first-served the day of the festival.

To check for reservations call 1-800-250-8611.

A QUIETER TIME AT FALL CREEK FALLS

Fall Creek Falls is Tennessee's most visited state park, but rangers say there are still certain times you can visit the park if you are looking for solitude. Caroll suggests the last three weekends in September, the weekend after the first frost and weekends between Easter and Memorial Day. The busiest times for the park are leaf-watching season in October and late summer.

On Sept. 29, Georgia will waive all parking and admission fees at state parks and historic sites around the state. Many "Friends Of" groups are hosting volunteer work days. "We're calling this celebration 'Your State Parks Day' to remind Georgians that state parks and historic sites belong to them," says Andy Fleming, executive director of the Friends of Georgia State Parks & Historic Sites. "Parks add so much to our lives. We're hoping more people will visit the state park closest to their homes and that they'll join one of the service projects happening that day."

Upcoming Events