<< Back 12/11/02 Park to host Festival of Christmas Past SMN Great Smoky Mountains National Park will present the 27th annual “Festival of Christmas Past” from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, two miles south of Gatlinburg. The free event, which features a series of hands-on workshops, demonstrations, and musical entertainment, is made possible through the efforts of park friends, including the Smoky Mountain Historical Society and Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association. “The festival provides an atmosphere of Christmas holiday cheer as many park friends gather to share their reflections on mountain lifestyles through conversation, storytelling, music, and demonstrations of domestic arts and food preparation,” said Supervisory Park Ranger Dan Hand. “Visitors can become participants and get involved in conversations with old-timers or join in on some of the song sessions. It’s a great opportunity to learn about mountain folkways and how Christmas was celebrated in a traditional fashion.” The day’s activities will take place at the Sugarlands Visitor Center and the Sugarlands Training Room, the building adjacent to the visitor center. In addition to the traditional activities provided, park rangers will conduct one-hour easy walks, beginning at the visitor center during scheduled times throughout the day. Visitors are also encouraged to stop by the apple press to get a fresh taste of apple cider from Pam and Fred Davis. In the Sugarlands Training Room several hands-on activities will take place all day: Artisans will demonstrate basket making, spinning, and weaving, while others share their knowledge on woodworking, furniture making, and how homemade remedies, chores, and foods were traditionally prepared. Participating this year are Connie and Bertha Clabo, Bill Alexander, Elmer Bakley, John Davis, Norma Idom, Jenny Bennett, Dale Liles, Ray Sellers, Frank Carter, and Shirley Floyd. The Christmas craft table is always a favorite with youngsters and adults alike. Under the guidance of Vickie Law participants will learn the art of making gifts and decorations from nature’s treasures, such as pine cones, already on hand. Cornshuck doll demonstrations are also scheduled. In the Sugarlands Visitor Center auditorium, schedule of events include Corn, Corn Fodder, Corncob, Etc. — All you ever wanted to know and more about corn from storyteller and long-time resident Herb Clabo. Bill Alexander, artisan and basket maker, will weave a tapestry of uplifting words and colorful images in a poetic journey, A Mountain Poet. Cherokee Storyteller and enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee, Lloyd Arneach, will share humorous and informative stories of the winter season in an extremely moving style. Musical entertainment will be performed both in the morning and afternoon. The Old Time Gospel Music/Old Harp Singers with Martha Graham, Carl Whaley, and Bruce Wheeler will provide sounds of traditional gospel and mountain music and old fashioned Christmas hymns and carols. Ending the afternoon festivities, the Copeland Creek Band with Bobby and Steve Loveday and friends will share music and stories about mountain folks, past and present. A Talk Show of selected people will share thoughts on “Maintaining Pieces of the Past.” Discussion topics include open spaces, clean flowing streams, foundation of our faith, shared memories, and preservation. Joining Glenn Cardwell, president of Smoky Mountain Historical Society, will be Kitty Manscill, Rev. Melvin Carr, and Dr. Michael Montgomery. In the Sugarlands lobby, visitors who enjoy talking about the past will also find Pictures of the Past an amusing pastime when Gladys Trentham Russell, Doug Redding and Earl Albertson bring alive past experiences through their displays of photographs, post cards and other memorabilia. Book signings are also scheduled: Lucinda Oakley Ogle, Remembrances of My Past 93 Years Growing Up in the Great Smoky Mountains; Harvey Oakley, Roamin’ and Restin’; Gladys Trentham Russell, Call Me Hillbilly, and George Humphries and Steve Kemp, Great Smoky Mountain Impressions. A copy of the program schedule and description of events, can be obtained by calling 436-1291.