Mark your calendar now to participate in any one or all of Cocke County's good ole' mountain festivals. Everything from the hometown heritage of Cosby, Del Rio, Newport, and Parrottsville to the native and wildly pungent Ramp is celebrated. Flowing through the air at these festivals, the sound of bluegrass music mingles with the smells of native Appalachian cooking, which together will naturally make you hungry for entirely different reasons. Only after attending any one of these festivals you will discover the true essence of what makes living in the Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee so grand.
April 8 - A Taste of the Smokies
You are invited to participate in an exciting annual event called "A Taste of the Smokies." During the festival, guests are invited to sample "tastes" of various participating restaurants in the Smoky Mountain foothills for a night of culinary indulgence. Each of the twenty-five restaurants that participate prepare at least 250 individual "tastes" of their finest dish, then individual guests who have purchased a ticket circulate among the tables sampling all the delicious "tastes." The event will be held in the Cosby High School cafeteria on April 8, 2000, from 6:00pm until 8:00pm - or until all the food is gone!
Cosby School's PTA is sponsoring the event, so not only will you be having a wonderful time that evening, but you will also be contributing to a worthwhile cause. All proceeds go toward the construction of a much needed playground. As every parent knows, social interaction during the middle school ages is of extreme importance to early adolescent development, and the playground is an integral part of such development. A seven-dollar donation is asked at the door - which isn't bad considering the benefits and the amount of goodies that are available.
So put on your loose-fitting pants, leave that belt at home, and get ready for some great entertainment and community fellowship! Some of the restaurants participating in the event this year are:
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Thousands of people are drawn to Kineuvista Meadow each year to honor the ramp, a garlic/onion-like member of the lily family. This year is the 47th year for the all day, family-oriented Cosby Ramp Festival. People from all over the world have attended the Cosby Ramp Festival, and famous guests have included President Harry Truman, Tennessee Ernie Ford, and Dinah Shore, just to name a few. Festivities include crowning of the "Maid of Ramps," in the Festival's popular beauty pageant. Traditional slow-smoked charcoal chicken is prepared, and the aroma of ramps cooking blows through the air with cornbread, pinto beans, and other traditional Smoky Mountain cooking. Sassafras tea is a popular drink while relaxing on meadow and listening to the Appalachian bluegrass music and singing that continues throughout the day.
Directions: From Interstate 40, exit 435, turn south on Highway 321 and continue toward Cosby for approximately five miles. Roadblocks from Tennessee State Troopers will direct traffic from the Highway for the short drive to Kineuvista Meadow.
For more information, contact: Jerry Cody (423) 623-0786.
June 16 and 17 - Cosby Dulcimer and Harp Convention
The year 2000 will be the 24th year for the Cosby Dulcimer and Harp Convention. People from all over have attended Jean and Lee Schilling's Convention to share stories around various folk instruments at all levels. Daily workshops are offered for dulcimers, harps, and other folk instruments from beginner to advanced levels. Demonstrations are offered to highlight the age-old craft of instrument building and other craft specialty workshops. Story-telling events, afternoon mini-concerts, evening stage-concerts, and activities for children are held to round out an extremely educational and entertaining weekend. So with the flow of continuous music during the day and concerts into the evenings, there is plenty to choose from at the weekend convention.
Weekend admission fee is $25, which includes on-site, tent-camping privileges. If you only want to spend the day and evening, the cost is $15, and if you only want to see the evening concerts, the cost is only $5.00. Children under 12 are half-price, and seniors get a 10% discount.
For more information, contact:
Jean or Lee Schilling
Mountain MusiCrafts
267 South Highway 32
Cosby, Tennessee 37722
Phone: (423) 487-5543
August 9 thru 14 - Cocke County A&I Fair
The forgotten County Agriculture and Industry Fair is still alive in Cocke County, and at the end of every summer, the Cocke County A&I Fair brings out the competitive spirit in people of all ages. You can still laugh at the sights and sounds of the Rooster versus Human Crowing Contest, take in the smells of cotton candy flowing through the air, and view people showing off the finest of their livestock. Bring back memories of the long-lost midway where you can still reminisce the good 'ole days after seeing couples holding hands while walking away from the Ferris Wheel, and hear the sounds of childrens' laughter turning with the light-hearted tunes of the Merry-Go-Round's caliope.
October 20 thru 22 - On Cosby Festival and Drama
For nearly a century, Cosby, Tennessee has been known as the "Mooshine Capital of the World." Way back in the days when the term "moonshiner" was 
considered an occupation and not just a character in folklore, Cosby was the departing end of the Thunder Road runway. Sugar sales were a profitable line of business, and cars were stolen for much more than just their radio. Back in those days, Smoky Mountain families depended on the sale of moonshine to put food on the table and clothes on the babies; just too bad the government felt the need to tax the stuff. Since 1954, the On Cosby Drama has told the story of these early, struggling Appalachian people and the way they lived around the turn of the century, their reliance on making homemade whiskey, and the stories of dealing with local and federal law enforcement.
The drama and festival are held on the spacious grounds of the Smoky Mountain Information Center in Cosby at the intersection of Hwy 32 and 321. During the three-day event, and centered around the drama, are the following features:
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For more information, contact:
Smoky Mountain Regional Information Center
Highway 32 and 321
Cosby, Tennessee 37722
Phone: (423) 487-5700
©1999 Newport/Cocke County Tourism Council
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