Red Clay State Historic Park will host the Cherokee Cultural Celebration on Saturday and Sunday. The two-day event will feature traditional dancing, demonstrations, and craft vendors from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is $5 per vehicle, according to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Red Clay State Park will host a program with participation from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation, and possibly the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. Tribal citizens will sell handmade crafts, and a rehabilitated hawk will be released by Alix Parks of HappiNest Raptor Rehabilitation. The park was the last seat of the Cherokee national government before their removal in 1838 and includes the Eternal Flame memorial honoring Cherokee history, as reported by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
Park Manager Erin Medley said, “This program is significant to supporting Red Clay’s interpretive mission,” adding, “To learn Cherokee history and culture from the people themselves is an invaluable experience that we are proud to facilitate on the historic Red Clay Council Grounds.” The event at Red Clay State Historic Park included the historic Blue Hole Spring and exhibits at the James F. Corn Interpretive Facility, featuring Cherokee art, a Trail of Tears display, and an interactive artificial intelligence avatar. Visitors also had access to a gift shop and library, as stated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.
