Cosby in the Park May 17

COSBY – The annual Cosby in the Park event is set for May 17, 2008 at the Cosby Campground of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A celebration of culture and heritage, this is the eight year for the event. The festivities will begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4p.m. This year, Grady C. Webb, a life-long Cosby resident will be honored for his service to the Park. A dedication ceremony will begin at 11 a.m at the Amphitheater in the Campground.

10 a.m. -- 11:00 a.m. Lost Mill String Band, old-time music.
11 a.m. -- 11:15 a.m. Dedication of Event/Proclamation (Dale Ditmanson, Illif McMahan, Kent Cave, Linda Lewanski)
11:15 a.m. -- Noon Boogertown Gap Band, old-time music
Noon -- 12:30 p.m. “Civil War Tales from Cosby” by Duay O’Neil, historian and columnist with the Newport Plain Talk
12:30 p.m. -- 1:00 p.m. Faye Wooden, storytelling
1:00 p.m. -- 1:45 p.m. The Green Family Band, traditional/bluegrass music
1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. Robby Land, fiddler
2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. David McClary and Friends, traditional/old-time music
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Curtis and Lynn Osteen, old-time music

Picnic Area Activities: Children’s Activities: Sack races, children’s crafts and games. 10 a.m. and ongoing throughout the day
“Ella V. Costner—Poet Laureate of the Smokies.” The life of an extraordinary Cocke County mountain woman by Sheila Evans, Jordan Costner, and Claudia Konker. 1:00 pm -- 1:30 pm in picnic area pavilion
“Hug a Tree and Survive” with Joey Holt, 2:00 pm -- 2:30 pm near picnic area pavilion
Children’s Storytelling with Faye Wooden, 2:30 pm – 3:00 p.m., picnic area pavilion

Hikes:
Cosby Nature Trail, 11:00 a.m. One mile hike, moderate difficulty, led by Morgan Briggs (meet at amphitheater)
Hike to Ella V. Costner grave and reading of poems, 1:30 pm. Two miles roundtrip, moderate difficulty. Meet at picnic area pavilion. Led by Judy and Shane McGaha and Pam Rodgers

Crafter’s Demonstrations—Picnic Area (ongoing throughout day): Bill Alexander, mountain berry baskets Maria Holloway, quilting Len Landrum, knife making and blacksmithing Clayton Sharp, blacksmithing and mountain tools Ellen Ogle, quilting Connie Clabo, basket making John and Sherry Holt, introduction to beekeeping Sherry Jennette and Sydney Frey, pine cone bird feeders

Thanks to Keep Cocke County Beautiful, this will be a Litter Free Event. For more information, contact Tourism Director Linda Lewanski at 423-625-9675. All events and times are subject to change.