Museum of Appalachia's Christmas Open House

November 28, 2007

The Museum of Appalachia’s Christmas Open House, Sunday, December 2nd from 1 to 5 p.m., takes visitors back to a simpler time.

In the cabins, musicians will play carols by the fireside. Quilting, storytelling, wood carving, and Dutch oven cooking will be demonstrated, and homemade chocolates will be offered for sale.

Out on the grounds, visitors can sample hot sassafras tea, watch an old-time sawmill in operation, see blacksmith demonstrations, and ride in a horse-drawn wagon.

Several bands—including the Stewart Family, Mountain Jam, the Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club, the Appalachian Harmonizers, and the Museum of Appalachia Band—will present Christmas music in the auditorium and the Hall of Fame. Church services and singing will be in the log chapel, and local authors will sign copies of their books in the gift shop.

Admission is free on Sunday, Dec. 2nd with the donation of a non-perishable food item to the Norris Area Food Pantry.

The Museum will remain decorated for Christmas through December 24th, with the simple gifts and decorations typical of the Appalachian folk. The sounds of the season drift through the air, as musicians play and sing seasonal music for visitors before a cozy fire in the Peters Homestead House.

Visitors may also tour the Museum’s extensive village-farm complex with some three dozen authentic log buildings, display halls filled with Appalachian artifacts, and farm animals in a picturesque setting, all surrounded by split-rail fences.

Christmas shoppers may browse the unique hand-made items in the Gift, Craft, and Antique Shop at the Museum—or simply rest at the cozy fireside in wooden rockers. Hot, country-style lunches are served daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Museum restaurant; home-made cakes, pies, cookies, and other holiday treats are available all day.

Gift memberships in the Museum are also available. The Museum, as a new affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, also offers memberships in the national museum in conjunction with its own membership program.

December hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily (except closed Christmas Day). The Museum, a not-for-profit organization, is located 16 miles north of Knoxville, one mile east of I-75, exit 122. For more information, call 865-494-7680, or visit the website at www.museumofappalachia.org.