Make plans to be part of the Great Island Festival in Vonore the weekend of September 9th and 10th.  Surrounded by Tellico Lake, this island is home to the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum’s Fall Festival and the Fort Loudoun State Historic Area’s 18th Century Trade Faire.

 The Fall Festival at The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum is about both the early history of the Cherokee and about today.  It’s a celebration of friendship.  The namesake of the museum, Sequoyah, was a Cherokee man who created a written language for his people and introduced it to them in 1821.  There will be sights and sounds of early Cherokee life combined with contemporary artists and music.

 Fort Loudoun was constructed during the French and Indian Wars and active from 1756-1760.  As you near the fort on September 9th and 10th, you’ll hear and see the 18th century.  Muskets and artillery, music and acts, vendors barking their wares, someone shouting “Stop Thief!” are part of the 18th Century Trade Fair.  About 200 costumed soldiers, merchants, women attached to the army, artists, craftsmen, pickpockets and beggers are in character and bring the 18th century to life.

 The Great Island Festival has music, food and entertainment.  At the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum’s Fall Festival, music will be performed in two places: the newly renovated amphitheater behind the museum with its improved lighting and sound system and outside in the hay circle, an area where bales of hay are formed into a circle.  Singer Paula Nelson with her powerful, emotional music and flautist Mike Serna, talk and tell stories as part of their performances.

 At Fort Loudoun, between the main stage and the side stage, acts will be continually running.  On the main stage, you may see returning fan favorites Father, Son and Friends playing Celtic music from the period, balladeers and troubadours The Travelling Caudells, Bailey the Magician presenting his sleight of hand and magical acts or the puppet show Punch and Judy.  Punch was almost a hundred years old when the fort was built.

 On the side stage, which you walk by on the way to the fort, the Amazing Budabi Brothers with their acrobatic juggling act of clubs and knives or Otto the Sword Swallower may be taking a turn on the stage.

 At the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, they have a new Cherokee Encampment Exhibit where Diamond Go-Sti is creating a bark shelter, a home early Cherokee would have lived in.  And, nearby, The Warrior Dancers of Ani-Kituhwa will be performing in traditional Cherokee clothing.  Lead by Bo Taylor, they will perform several dances including the historic grass dance which Henry Timberlake wrote about seeing when he was at Fort Loudoun in the 18th century.  Watching the dancers may turn you into a dancer yourself when they bring people from the audience into their show.

 Merchants in Fort Loudoun will be selling items appropriate to the times such as pottery, tinware, pewter ware and handmade muskets and knives.  Others are there to demonstrate crafts.  Even the blacksmith is here and is happy to tell you about his trade.  The Sequoyah Birthplace Museum’s Fall Festival will have both contemporary and traditional artists and craftspeople.  They will be demonstrating and sometimes selling their creations of carving, pottery, painting and mountain crafts.

 Hungry?  The Fall Festival has many choices for food.  There is fry bread drizzled with honey or dusted with powdered sugar.  Or have it made it into an “Indian Taco” with chili and cheese.  They also offer hamburgers, hotdogs, barbeque and sausage hotdogs with sauerkraut.  If you’d prefer something cool, try shaved ice.  Over at Fort Loudoun, you can purchase some victuals (stew) that have been bubbling in a cast iron pot over a fire.

 At Fort Loudoun, children can have fun at a tent set up by Faire Tyme Toys and Games from Ontario, Canada.  Their tent will have period appropriate toys and there will be games to play outside.  At both Fort Loudoun and the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, children can pay for the materials used and make something to take home.  At Fort Loudoun, it’s an 18th century toy and at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum they can make a talking stick or a necklace.  The museum will also have face painting.

 Now, as a final note about Fort Loudoun, there’s probably no reason to be alarmed, but word has it that enemies of the King are hiding in the woods surrounding the fort and may try to disrupt the proceedings.  Patrols will be out.  In the early afternoon they will attack the fort.  It should be a sight to see.

Great Island Festival - September 9 & 10

 Cost: The 18th Century Trade Faire and the Fall Festival are $5.00 each.

Hours: 10 am to 5 pm

Directions: Highway 411 to the intersection with Highway 360 in Vonore.

Parking:  A shuttle will be running between the events.  As a tip, the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum has more parking than Fort Loudoun so, if you’re planning to attend both events, you may want to park there.

The Fort Loudoun Association is working with artist Ken Smith to create a series of prints showing the history of Fort Loudoun.

 The first painting will be unveiled during the 18th Century Trade Faire on September 9th and print number one of the series, matted and framed, will be auctioned.  Each year at the 18th Century Trade Faire, through 2010, another year in the history of Fort Loudoun will be shown in a new painting.  This year’s painting depicts the Independent Company’s departure to the Cherokee territory.  Next year, the painting will show the construction of the fort, 2008 will present the peace and harmony of the fort occupants and the Cherokee people, 2009 will show the harmony disrupted and 2010 will show the surrender of Fort Loudoun and the incident at Cane Creek.  

  The remaining 15 x 18 prints from the limited edition of 250 can be purchased until September 8th for a reduced price of $75.00 and, after that date, for $95.00.  Each print will be signed by the artist and numbered.  The proceeds from this fundraiser will go toward reconstruction of Fort Loudoun and for educational programs.  For additional information, contact the park office at 423-884-6217.  To see Ken Smith’s work, go to www.godsavethesouth.com.