IF YOU GOWhat: 25th annual Coke Ovens Bluegrass FestivalWhen: Friday and SaturdayTime: 6 p.m. CDT Friday; 10 a.m. CDT SaturdayWhere: Dunlap Coke Ovens Park and Museum, 350 Mountain View Road, Dunlap, Tenn.Cost: $3 Friday; $5 SaturdayInformation: www.cokeovens.com
DUNLAP, Tenn. – In 1984, 62 acres were given to the Sequatchie Valley Historic Association. At the time, it was a dump – literally.
The association made plans to make it into the Dunlap Coke Ovens Park and Museum. In just a few years, the trash was gone and the brush cleared out, said Carson Camp, a member of the association. The park is run by the nonprofit group, which started a bluegrass contest to generate money for the museum and maintenance.
Now, 25 years later, the park is 88 acres and the contest has turned into a concert with help from Citizens Tri-County Bank, Camp said. This year’s bluegrass festival is set for this weekend.
“This is a family festival. We don’t allow any alcohol on the grounds. We want people to come up here and feel relaxed,” he said. “It’s a great place for a family to come and put a blanket down on the hillside to set up and listen to the music.”