Sycamore Shoals State Park Upcoming Events

Published 1:36 pm Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Flint and Steel Fire Starting Basics — 1 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. Price is $5 and register for the event. How would you make a fire without the modern conveniences of a lighter or matches? Discover this fundamental 18th century skill by joining Ranger Jason Davis for a hands-on tutorial about basic flint and steel fire starting tips and techniques. Please dress appropriately for the weather. Supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring your own if you’d like.

Walking in Frontier Footsteps – 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Meet at the picnic area near Kiosk. Price is $5 and register for the event. Join Ranger Davis for a special guided interpretive walk through the grounds of Sycamore Shoals and along portions of the walking path. Discover the historical events that took place surrounding Sycamore Shoals and their significance to the formation of our State and Country. Dress appropriately for the weather as we will be taking a casual stroll on the walking path and through the park grounds. Meet in the Visitor Center at 3 p.m. Please no pets. Hike is by reservation only and subject to cancelation due to significantly inclement weather.

Carter Mansion Guided Tour — 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. Meet at Historic John and Landon Carter Mansion 1031 Broad St. Elizabethton, TN 37643. 

Price: 6 and under is free, $5 ages 7 to 17, $9/adults and register for the event. Join Park Ranger Jason Davis for a tour of Tennessee’s oldest frame house! Discover the secrets of this elegant frontier home and learn the history of the family who built it between 1775 and 1780.

Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase. Tour may be subject to cancelation in the event of severely inclement weather.

Freedom and Firelocks — 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Meet at the Visitor Center. Price is $5 and register for the event. How did a frontier militia made up of hunters and farmers win one of the most pivotal battles of the American Revolution against the best-trained army in the world? Join Ranger Jason Davis to discover how our freedom was won by our forefathers as we take a look at the tools that defeated tyranny. The evolution of firelock technology from matchlock, flintlock, and percussion will be discussed and we’ll also compare and contrast the rifle and the musket. The program will end with a bang as we fire off the flintlock musket! Meet in the Visitor Center lobby at 1 p.m.

Audition for Liberty! The Saga of Sycamore Shoals — 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Meet at the Gathering Place in the Visitor Center. Register for the event. Interested in performing in Tennessee’s official outdoor drama? We invite you to audition for this fun and unique interpretation of the American Revolution as told by the Overmountain Men: colonists who defied British law and settled on Cherokee lands. Our 2023 performances will be held in June this year, so mark your calendars now!

Raised Bed Gardening with Ben Hunter — 9 a.m. – noon. Meet at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Visitor Center. Price is free, $5/attendee +$5 donation, $10/attendee + $10 donation, $20/attendee +$20 donation. Register for the event. It’s not too early to be planning and building your spring garden. Gardener extraordinaire, Ben Hunter, will be joining us to share his experiences and techniques for growing the garden of your dreams! Sponsored by the Northeast Tennessee Master Gardeners.

Fellowship English Country Dancing — 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Meet at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park Visitor Center. Beginners and seasoned dancers alike are all welcome! The afternoon will include the opportunity to learn dances from the early 19th century. No cost to attend. Open to anyone, with or without experience or a partner. Meet in the Visitor Center. Sponsored by the Sabine Hill Social Society.

Historical Sewing Class — 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Meet at the Gathering Place in the Visitor Center. Looking for some help sewing your historical attire? Sewing instructor Donna Horowitz will be on hand to help you with the details. Topics covered: pattern alteration for sizing, maximizing yardage with pattern layout, general sewing terms/techniques. Starting with the colonial period and moving forward — these classes are open to any period time traveler.

Student to bring all needed supplies, sewing machine, basic sewing tools. Power cords and use of an iron will be provided. Class is open to sewing students ages 16 and up.

Class fee: $35 for both sessions (6 hours). Pay on day of class.

Register by calling Park Visitor Center.

Audition for Liberty! The Saga of Sycamore Shoals — 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Meet at the Gathering Place in the Visitor Center. Register for the event. Interested in performing in Tennessee’s official outdoor drama? We invite you to audition for this fun and unique interpretation of the American Revolution as told by the Overmountain Men: colonists who defied British law and settled on Cherokee lands. Our 2023 performances will be held in June this year, so mark your calendars now!

Historical Sewing Class — 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. — Meet at the Gathering Place in the Visitor Center. Looking for some help sewing your historical attire? Sewing instructor Donna Horowitz will be on hand to help you with the details. Topics covered: pattern alteration for sizing, maximizing yardage with pattern layout, general sewing terms/techniques. Starting with the colonial period and moving forward — these classes are open to any period time traveler.

Student to bring all needed supplies, sewing machine, basic sewing tools. Power cords and use of an iron will be provided. Class is open to sewing students ages 16 and up.

Class fee: $35 for both sessions (6 hours). Pay on day of class.

Register by calling Park Visitor Center.

Death and Mourning in Early America – 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Price is $12. Register for the event. In February of 1842 our region mourned the loss of Elizabeth MacLin Carter, the namesake of Elizabethton and widow of Brigadier General Landon Carter. Near the anniversary of Elizabeth’s death, join museum curator Chad Bogart for a special after-hours tour of the Carter Mansion, Tennessee’s oldest frame house, and learn about the strange and somewhat bizarre customs, rituals, and superstitions surrounding death, mourning, and funerals in early America.

 The John and Landon Carter Mansion is located at 1031 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643.

Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase.

Death and Mourning in Early America – 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Meet at the Carter Mansion. Price is $12. Register for the event. In February of 1842 our region mourned the loss of Elizabeth MacLin Carter, the namesake of Elizabethton and widow of Brigadier General Landon Carter. Near the anniversary of Elizabeth’s death, join museum curator Chad Bogart for a special after-hours tour of the Carter Mansion, Tennessee’s oldest frame house, and learn about the strange and somewhat bizarre customs, rituals, and superstitions surrounding death, mourning, and funerals in early America.

The John and Landon Carter Mansion is located at 1031 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643.

Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase.

Outing Yourself During the Federal Period – 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Meet at the Gathering Place in the visitor center. Join Donna Horowitz, founder of Sabine Hill Social Society, for an afternoon of presentations covering the American Federal Period. In this lecture Donna will talk about the clothing and the history behind them and give examples and reasons for them. This event will highlight the changes after the American Revolution that brought a new identity to fashion in the urban and rural areas of the newly formed United States. This lecture is open to all at no cost and is sponsored by Sabine Hill Social Society and its members.

Register by calling the park visitor center (423-543-5808).

WVAL Zentangle Workshop – 10 a.m. – noon. Meet at the Gathering Place in the visitor center. A WVAL Zentangle workshop is taught by Sunny Tanner from 10 a.m. – noon and is only $10, payable at the door on the day of the class. The fee covers the cost of the venue and supplies for the workshop. It is offered through Watauga Valley Art League’s education program and is open to the public. There is an age limit (13 yrs old & above) as well as a limit to class capacity (30).

Meditation and Art are combined in a different way. This class will help you practice mindful meditation in ways other than movement to help reduce anxiety and daily stress.

Sunny has taken years of art classes from ETSU and with Master class teachers online…..as well as spending countless hours perfecting her craft while capturing the peace that art brings in action.  Now she wants to share this therapy with others.

Zentangle is an American method for drawing, which not only promotes concentration and creativity but at the same time increases personal well-being. Zentangle was invented by a monk named Rick Roberts and an artist named Maria Thomas. With Zentangle, they created a combination of meditation and art. People practicing Zentangle have found that it has increased self-confidence, relieved stress and anxiety, improved eye-hand coordination, nurtured and developed creativity, and the list goes on. A Zentangle is an abstract artwork created by a pattern collection. Sometimes mistakenly called “Zendoodling” or Tangle Doodling, Zentangling or tangling is actually a formalized process that defines itself as something other than mere doodling because of its theory and approach.

Zentangle is an excellent form of self-therapy to deal with the stress of the world, while being a creative form of dooling art. It can be used in productive ways or just for fun. Come join the workshop and learn this method of achieving an artful meditation.

Carter Mansion Guided Tour — 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Meet at Historic John and Landon Carter Mansion 1031 Broad St. Elizabethton, TN 37643. 

Price: 6 and under is free, $5 ages 7 to 17, $9/adults and register for the event. Join Park Ranger Cory Franklin for a tour of Tennessee’s oldest frame house! Discover the secrets of this elegant frontier home and learn the history of the family who built it between 1775 and 1780.

The John and Landon Carter Mansion is located at 1031 Broad Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643

Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase. Tour may be subject to cancelation in the event of severely inclement weather.

Sabine Hill Guided Tour – 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Meet at Sabine Hill Historic Site. Price: 6 and under is free, $5 ages 7 to 17, $9/adults and register for the event. Join Park Ranger Cory Franklin for a guided tour of this stately home built by Mary Patton Taylor, widow of Brigadier General Nathaniel Taylor. The site has been described as one of the finest examples of Federal architecture in the State of Tennessee. During your tour you will have the opportunity to take in the colorful and architecturally detailed interior while learning about the influential Taylor family who called Sabine Hill home in the early 19th century.

Sabine Hill is located at 2328 West G Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643

Please note, only portable toilet facilities are available at this time. Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase. Tour may be subject to cancelation in the event of severely inclement weather.

Please note, only portable toilet facilities are available at this time. Accessibility to the home includes steps and an interior staircase. Tour may be subject to cancelation in the event of severely inclement weather.

What to wear and how to dress for Liberty! – 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Meet at the gathering place in visitor center. Are you planning to participate in the annual outdoor drama Liberty? Costumer for the drama, Donna Horowitz will be leading a lecture on the clothing colonial men, women, children and Native Americans will be wearing. Interested in acquiring your own clothing? This is an excellent opportunity to learn firsthand what types of fibers, styles & colors of garments were worn in East TN during the early settlement period through the American Revolution. (1770 – 1776). This lecture is open to all at no cost, even if you are not participating in the production.

Register by calling the park visitor center (423-543-5808).