Beauty of one Carter County attraction will be on full display at the end of the month.

Representatives with the Friends of Roan Mountain civic group recently announced to the Elizabethton Star that the 60th annual Roan Mountain Spring Naturalists’ Rally will take place April 27–29 at Roan Mountain State Park.

Larry McDaniel, spring rally director, stated that the event will feature a bevy of activities for participants and will be used to spotlight that natural resources offered in the region. One key feature of the event is the support of volunteers.

“The longevity of this event is especially remarkable as it has always been run entirely by volunteers,” McDaniel said.

According to McDaniel, the event serves as a way to keep various activities and research ongoing at the state park.

The schedule of events include:

Friday, April 27 –

Conference center activities

5:30 p.m. – Registration and check-in

6:30 p.m. – Buffet dinner (requires a reservation prepaid by Tuesday, April 24)

7:30 p.m. – “The Birds and Bees of Wildflowers – Pollination Strategies of Flowers” by Kris Light.

9 p.m. – 1) Night sky viewing with Gary Henson, 2) Moth viewing with Larry McDaniel

Saturday, April 28

6:30 a.m. – Early bird with Herndon Chapter – participants are asked to meet at the visitors center

8:30 a.m. – (FIELD TRIPS) Participants are asked to meet at the field near the cabins’ entrance. On-site registration is available and participants will be asked to carpool. 1) Birds of Roan Mountain, 2) Jones Falls Hike, 3) River & High Mountain Wildflowers, 4) Nature Hike Bingo, 5) Birding for Beginners, 6) Reptiles & Amphibians, 7) Geology 8) Centipedes and Millipedes

11 a.m. – (Conference center programs) 1) Fossil Casting, 2) Live Birds of Prey

12 to 1 p.m. – Lunch with 60 years of spring rallies presentation

2 p.m. – (Conference center) History of Roan Mountain State Park and its Funding (Field Trips) 1) Wildflowers and Nature, 2) Aquatic Insects as Water Quality Indicators, 3) Mosses and Liverworts, 4) Wildflowers of the Blue Two Trail, 5) Aquavitae roanensis, Spring Spirits of Roan Mountain, 6) Habitat Discovery, 7) Wild Edible & Medicinal Plants, 8) Butterflies and Bugs

6:30 p.m. – Buffet dinner

7:30 p.m. – Program: The Future of Appalachian

9 p.m. – Salamander Walk and Moth Viewing

Sunday, April 29

8:30 a.m. – (FIELD TRIPS) 1) Birds of Hampton Creek Cove, 2) Ed Schell Memorial Hike

2 p.m. – (FIELD TRIPS) 1) Salamanders, 2) Insects

Individuals can visit www.friendsofroanmtn.org to register for the event.