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Holiday Homecoming Planned for December 19 in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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By Kurt Repanshek - December 11th, 2009

As part of the holiday event, children can participate in making making bees wax candles at the Mountain Farm Museum to take home with them. NPS photo.

If you can't make the "Festival of Christmas Past" this weekend in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you might consider attending the Holiday Homecoming at the park's Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum on December 19.

This annual gathering allows park staff and volunteers to provide historical demonstrations and holiday music along with some hot cider and cookies. For the celebration, scheduled to run from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., the visitor center will be decorated for the holiday season and will include an exhibit on how Christmas was celebrated in the mountains in the past. The Davis/Queen farmhouse at the Mountain Farm Museum also will be open for visitors to walk through. Demonstrations will include woodworking, making cornshuck dolls and handmade brooms. You'll also have an opportunity to make beeswax candles, and local musicians will be on hand to provide traditional holiday music as well as old-time tunes.

"As a highlight this year, local author George Ellison will be on hand to discuss and sign copies of Horace Kephart’s 'lost' novel, Smoky Mountain Magic, which is now in print—80 years after its completion," said Ranger Lynda Doucette.

Mr. Ellison has special insight into the life and writings of Mr. Kephart, and penned the introduction to the newly released novel.

The Oconaluftee Visitor Center and Mountain Farm Museum are located on Newfound Gap Road (U.S. Highway 441), two miles north of Cherokee, N.C. For more information call the visitor center at (828) 497-1904. All activities are free and open to the public. Generous support of this event is provided by Friends of Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

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