Townsend – The fifth annual Spring Heritage Festival is set for May 1 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Great Smoky Mountains Heritage Center in Townsend.
     The event is sponsored by Fence Rail Gap LLC and Kinzel Springs Development, and features historic demonstrations by area craftspeople and tradesmen. Returning demonstrations include basket making, open hearth cooking, beekeeping, candle making, hide tanning, rug making, iron forging, quilting, chair caning, and wood carving, among others.
     The historic games segment of the festival will be expanded this year and is scheduled to include sack races, wheelbarrow races, egg and spoon, along with corn cob darts, Scotch & hoops, and button whizzers, with games planned for adults and for children. Other games may be offered. In addition, volunteers will be on hand to help young visitors ‘build a cabin.’
     New in 2010 is a free concert, beginning at 6 p.m. on the Center’s amphitheater stage. Featured bands include Foothills Express and the Country Tennesseans.
     Other new programs this year include, Olivia Sipe of Miss Olivia’s Table in Maryville will conduct workshops at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on “Preparing a Prize Winning Pie Crust.”  
     Between 1 and 3 p.m., professional artists Wes and Rachelle Siegrist of Townsend will demonstrate miniature art painting to recognize the Miniature Artists of America exhibition set to open at the Center on June 8.
     Linda Cash, a Cherokee descendant from Clinton, will demonstrate traditional Cherokee bead work throughout the day.
     Also part of this year’s festival will be displays by the Smoky Mountain Model A Club, the Tennessee Valley Model A Club, and demonstrations by the Townsend Artisans Guild.
     Visitors have an opportunity to view the Center’s newest historic structure, Wilder Chapel, as well as some of the new walkways, trees and other landscaping currently underway on the grounds.
     Festival admission is $4 per person, and free for Heritage Center members and children under six years of age.
     Food and non-alcoholic beverages will be available on-site for an additional charge. No coolers, food or drink may be brought in to the event. In addition, no pets are allowed on the grounds.
     The Heritage Center is located between the Townsend traffic light and the national park entrance, on Scenic Highway 73.
     For more information, call the Heritage Center at (865) 448-0044.

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