Sycamore Shoals State Park Upcoming Events

Published 8:41 am Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Tech in Nature – 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Meet at the picnic area beside the Visitor’s Center. Price: $0 / 6 and under; $5 per person. Register for the event.

Today, most people are inseparable from their smart phones and mobile devices. We want to embrace this cultural change and show you how you can better use technology on a day to day bases in nature. Using tools such as GPS locating, plant identification, and other easily accessible resources and apps, we will show you how to enhance your experience rather than take away from it. Join Ranger Cory Franklin for a walk around the park to better understand the tools you carry with you daily. The program will meet and begin at the picnic area beside the Visitor Center.

2nd Spring Open House/Annual Plant Auction – Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park. Join us for the 2nd annual Spring Open House here at the park. Also, take in a variety of outdoor organizations and groups that will be set up in the Visitor Center and outside the park. Represented will be Master Gardeners, our very own in-house butterfly/bird expert, other neighboring State Parks and sites, and many more. So plan on joining us for a fun-filled day of indoor and outdoor activities to kick off your Spring!

Annual Plant Auction: Doors open at 8:15 a.m. to view plants and register. Auction begins at 9 a,m.

Earth Day Celebration – 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. – SHSS celebrates Earth Day with a fun day of outdoor activities. We will be meeting outside at the park for an afternoon of shuttlecock and 9 pins. Look for us near the fort. Period attire is preferred but not necessary. Please bring your own refreshments, chair/ground cover. In the event of inclement weather, this event will be rescheduled.

Old Time Music Jam – Led by Art Lang – 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Meet at the Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park Visitor Center

Enjoy the rich musical traditions of our region each month. Old-time musicians of all levels are welcome. Don’t play an instrument? Come on over, kick back, and enjoy the tunes!

Sabine Hill Guided Tour – 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Meet at Sabine Hill Historic Site. Price: children 6 and under is free, $5/ages 7-17, $9/adults. 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 St., 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.

Bird Walk with the Lee & Lois Herndon TOS Chapter – 8 a.m. Meet at the Visitor Center parking area. Meet other birders and naturalists at Sycamore Shoals for a morning of birding during the migratory season.

Fellowship English Country Dancing – 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Meet at the 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.

Watauga Valley Art League Meeting with Guest Speaker – 1:30 p.m. Meet at the Park Visitor Center. All are welcome to join our area artists for their monthly meeting, highlighted by an art related presentation.

Siege of Fort Watauga – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free admission. It is 1776 and the frontier is ablaze with war. Join us as 200 Colonial and Native reenactors present this dramatic retelling of the Cherokee attack brought on the settlers of the Watauga Valley. Visit the living history camps, shop with period vendors, and witness battle re-enactments both days. Hear the rattle of muskets, smell the campfire smoke and see history come to life at the Siege of Fort Watauga. Contact the park for a detailed schedule.

Siege of Fort Watauga – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free admission. It is 1776 and the frontier is ablaze with war. Join us as 200 Colonial and Native reenactors present this dramatic retelling of the Cherokee attack brought on the settlers of the Watauga Valley. Visit the living history camps, shop with period vendors, and witness battle re-enactments both days. Hear the rattle of muskets, smell the campfire smoke and see history come to life at the Siege of Fort Watauga. Contact the park for a detailed schedule.

Sabine Hill Guided Tour – 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. Meet at Sabine Hill Historic Site. Price: children 6 and under is free, $5/ages 7-17, $9/adults. 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 St., 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.

Spring Knap-In at Fort Watauga – 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Knapping – with a “K” – has nothing to do with sleep! Knapping is the art of making stone tools. Watch primitive skills craftsmen make arrowheads, spear points, and other survival tools. There will be demonstrations of primitive tools such as the bow, arrow, and atlatl throughout the day.

Old-Time Music Jam – Led by Art Lang – 1:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Meet at: Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park Visitor Center. Enjoy the rich musical traditions of our region each month led by Art Lang. Old-time musicians of all levels are welcome. Don’t play an instrument? Come on over, kick back, and enjoy the tunes!

“Never Forget” – Memorial Day Concert – Meet at Fort Watauga. Join us on Memorial Day as The Johnson City Community Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Christian Zembower, presents “Never Forget,” a special concert to remember and honor those who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom. In addition to the concert a special ceremony will recognize those from the American War of Independence to the present day, who have fallen in the service of our country. Presented in the Fort Watauga Amphitheater.