Sycamore Shoals State Park will play host to a variety of events this weekend for visitors to enjoy, including a timeline of military history, a harvest festival and a fiber show.
“The Fall Fibers Show had always been on a separate weekend, and the Harvest Festival was on a separate weekend and then the Time Line was on a separate weekend,” Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park Manager Jennifer Bauer said.
This year, she added, park staff decided to host all the events during the same weekend.
“There are lots of things going on for people to do this weekend,” Bauer said.
Each year near Veterans’ Day, the park hosts “A Walk In Their Boots: A Timeline of American Military History.” This year, the event will be held Saturday, Nov. 5, and Sunday, Nov. 6, from 10 am until 4 pm each day.
This event allows visitors to step back in time and experience life on the front lines as an American military soldier and follow his footsteps through the earliest frontier days, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, America’s Civil War, World War I, World War II and beyond.
“A lot of these folks will be encamped for the weekend,” Bauer said. “Most of them will be in costume for the era they represent. Many bring a lot of fascinating displays of clothing, weapons and items related to their specific era.”
Battle demonstrations and reenactments from the American Revolution, the Civil War and World War II will be presented each day to showcase the different tactics used throughout our military past.
Bauer said the event is designed to not only honor the past but also recognize our nation’s present military heroes. Everyone is encouraged to attend especially our veterans.
New to the event this year will be a Veteran Recollection Program, which will afford veterans the opportunity to share their story with others. This program will take place in the Fort Watauga amphitheater immediately following the 11 am activities each day. If you are a veteran and would like to participate in this special event please call 412-726-6665 for more information.

In conjunction with the Time Line event, the Washington County Regiment of North Carolina Militia, host living history organization for Sycamore Shoals, will present a Colonial Harvest Celebration inside Fort Watauga.
“They will be demonstrating the activities that would have taken place this time of year with the harvest and preparing for the coming winter,” Bauer said.
The Harvest Celebration will feature demonstrations on open hearth cooking and many of the aspects of daily life on the colonial frontier.
The Fall Fibers Show will be held in and around the park’s visitors center from 10 am – 4 pm on Saturday, Nov. 5th and 10 am – 3 pm on Sunday, Nov. 6th.
“We have 30 vendors, workshops and demonstrations during the weekend,” Bauer said of the Fibers Show.
The day will include workshops, vendors with handmade items for sale, raw fibers, and demonstrations of spinning, weaving, and more.
As part of the Fibers Show, Bauer said Phil Lakin will be bringing his animals to conduct sheep herding demonstrations. Also, Tom Hudgin and Mary Lou Hassell, of Limestone Creek Llamas, will be bringing animals to show and will be providing llama cart rides on the park grounds.
For more information on the events taking place at the park this weekend, contact Sycamore Shoals State Park at 423-543-5808.