Tennessee Fall Homecoming at Museum of Appalachia this weekend

NORRIS—The annual Tennessee Fall Homecoming at the Museum of Appalachia in Norris this weekend will feature more than 70 musicians, authentic mountain and pioneer demonstrations, and dozens of artisans showcasing and selling handmade goods.

It’s a beloved and historic three-day event, organizers said.

This year, the Homecoming Marketplace, where festival-goers browse heritage arts and crafts from artisans showcasing their skills on site, has been selected as a feature representation of Tennessee Craft Week. Tennessee First Lady Crissy Haslam will be making a special appearance on Friday afternoon from 2:30-4 p.m. to promote Tennessee Arts programs.

The featured music lineup for this year’s event, now in its 36th year, includes the Del McCoury Band, multiple Grammy and International Bluegrass Music Award recipient and Bluegrass Hall of Fame member; previous two-time IBMA Entertainers of the Year and Vocal Group of the Year, the Gibson Brothers; and the multiple Grammy- and Dove-nominated band, Doyle Lawson and Quicksilver, also a 7-time IBMA Vocal Group of the Year and Bluegrass Hall of Fame Member. Also returning to the Tennessee Fall Homecoming this year is the legendary Larry Sparks, who was just inducted into the Bluegrass Hall of Fame at the 2015 IBMA awards.

Organizers said the line-up is rich in talent, with reigning IBMA Vocal Group of the Year, Balsam Range; IBMA Instrumental Group of the Year, the Boxcars; IBMA male vocalist of the year, Junior Sisk and Ramblers Choice; five-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year, Dale Ann Bradley; IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year and IBMA Guitar Player of the Year, Kenny and Amanda Smith, and multiple Grammy winner, David Holt, accompanied by Josh Goforth.

“All kinds of emerging talents, along with dozens of returning favorites, will be performing on five rustic outdoor stages throughout the pastoral grounds of the Museum of Appalachia,” a press release said.

Organizers said there is something for everyone to enjoy at this year’s Homecoming.

“The Museum continues to preserve what would otherwise be lost arts, with fascinating, educational, and historic demonstrations that take place throughout the village, using old-time mountain and pioneer skills, as well as many of the conventional tools,” a press release said. “Old time buck- dancers and cloggers entertain on several stages; regionally and nationally known Southern authors will be on hand to provide book signings; Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine will be providing tastings for the first time this year; and a delicious array of fine Southern fare and Appalachian delicacies can be sampled all across the site.”

Museum President Elaine Meyer has been involved with Homecoming since its inception.

“Homecoming began as a very small community event; a gathering of friends, family, and musicians who displayed their talents on the back of a single hay wagon,” Meyer said. “From the beginning, I remember baking bread of all sorts for our guests, and listening with joy to some amazing musicians. Today, 36 years later, Homecoming is now considered a nationally acclaimed festival, but the very same feeling is there. This year promises to be one of the best ever, with an amazing lineup of musicians, artisans and demonstrators.”

Visit the Museum of Appalachia’s website, www.museumofapppalachia.org or the Tennessee Fall Homecoming Facebook Page for breaking details. See the full list of artists, get up-to-date festival information, find answers to FAQs, get directions and more.

A nonprofit organization, the Museum’s mission is to preserve Appalachian artifacts and instill in the community—regionally, nationally, and internationally—a greater knowledge of, and appreciation for, the Appalachian heritage. The Museum is located 16 miles north of Knoxville, one mile east of I-75, at Exit 122.

 

 

 

 

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