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The Annnual Celebration of Spring will be Saturday, April 14th at Edgar Evins State Park, Silver Point, between Smithville and Cookeville on Center Hill Lake.
This year it will also commemorate the 75th Birthday of Tennessee State Parks. It will be a FREE day of outdoor recreation and entertainment for families and individuals, sponsored by the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park and park employees.
The day's activities will begin at 8 a.m. at the Visitors Center with registration for all and sign-ups for the events that have a maximum number of participants. The activities that have limits are the popular nature hikes led by State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath, Park Ranger Mark Taylor, and Holly Taylor as well as the approximately hour long pontoon boat rides for adults and children over 3 years accompanied by an adult.
Other events will include kite flying, face painting, 3-legged and sack races, living history demonstrations, and Ssssnakes!
Boy Scouts of Troop 875 will show how to cook in a Dutch Oven over a camp fire. Girl Scouts of Troop 1147 will assist anyone interested in making honeysuckle baskets or cornshuck dolls at the crafting workshop.
Many offerings will overlap so there will be something going on most of the day for various ages and interests. In addition there are approximately 11 miles of trails waiting to be hiked by those who prefer to explore on their own.
Live on-stage performances beginning at 8:30 a.m. will include a welcome address by James Westerfield of Murfreesboro as James Edgar Evins for whom the park was named, Minnie Pearl impersonator and country/pop singer, Patricia Jackson from Nashville, the Cannon Arts Dance Studio with Lori Christensen ("Ms. California" ) of Woodbury as Mother Nature, and the popular Flat Broke Blue Grass Band.
During the stage show there will be random Tennessee State Parks Trivia questions and prizes for correct answers. Other prizes will be awarded for the most nearly correct estimate of the candies in a jar and for winners of the races.
Participants are encouraged to pack a picnic or sack lunch and plan to stay for a fun day in the park. Those who wish to make it an overnight or weekend outing may phone the park office (1-800-250-8619 or 931-858-2114) to inquire about camping and cabins.
The website for the Friends of Edgar Evins State Park may be visited at http://foeesp.ne1.net
