History Happenings for September

The Overmountain Men's march as well as events highlighting preparations for fall help make up the bulk of History Happenings in September. SYCAMORE SHOALS STATE HISTORIC PARK The Overmountain Muster at Sycamore Shoals takes place on Sept. 19-20. Experience the story of the Overmountain Men and their historic gathering at Fort Watauga prior to the Battle of Kings Mountain in the fall of 1780. Join numerous living history demonstrators, reenactors and heritage interpreters as they bring the frontier to life. Visit the militia encampment and fort. Shop with period vendors and enjoy Revolutionary War era tactical demonstrations. Also on Sept. 19, the "Sons of the American Revolution: Gathering at Sycamore Shoals" will take place at 10 a.m. As part of the Overmountain Muster, join the Tennessee Society Sons of the American Revolution at Fort Watauga in honor of the Overmountain Men and their victory over loyalist forces at the Battle of Kings Mountain. This will be the 246th anniversary of the "Gathering at Sycamore Shoals" and will be celebrated with a memorial service and a ceremonial wreath laying. On Sept. 25, the Overmountain Victory Trail Association's crossing of the Watauga River will take place around 2 p.m. Members of the OVTA have recreated the historic campaign to Kings Mountain since 1975. On this Friday, marchers will cross the Watauga River at Sycamore Shoals just as the Overmountain militia did 246 years ago. This event is dependent on river conditions. Earlier in the month before all the Overmountain activities, Sycamore Shoals will host the fall knap-in on Sept. 12 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Knapping is the art of making stone tools, and the fall knap-in is part of the celebration of Tennessee Archaeology Awareness Month. You will be able to watch and learn as skilled craftspeople make arrow points, spear points and other early survival tools. There will also be demonstrations of bow and arrow as well as the atlatl throughout the day. Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park is located at 1651 W. Elk Ave. in Elizabethton. For more information, call 423-543-5808. EXCHANGE PLACE LIVING HISTORY FARM Exchange Place Living History Farm will hold its 54th annual Fall Folk Arts Festival on Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sept. 27 from noon to 5 p.m. This celebration of traditional arts and crafts and the harvest season will feature artisans demonstrating and selling a wide array of heritage folk arts, along with autumn plants and seasonal items. Visitors will see skills essential to life in the 1850s such as coopering, lye soap making, blacksmithing, spinning and weaving, and hearthside cooking. On that Saturday, Ms. Maggie T. Mule, with help from some of Exchange Place's human volunteers, will once again be extracting juice from cane so it can be cooked into sorghum. Pure sorghum syrup will be on sale for as long as supplies last. There will also be food, music, and kids can try their hand at the chores and play of the 19th century with activities scattered around the farmstead. Exchange Place is located at 4812 Orebank Road in Kingsport. Admission for the festival is $5 for adults and free for children under 12. For more information, phone 423-288-6071 or email epfestivals.gf@gmail.com. You can also go to the website at https://exchangeplacetn.org/. TIPTON-HAYNES STATE HISTORIC SITE Tipton-Haynes will host the Appalachian Highlands Celts and their annual Celtic Festival on Sept. 4-6. The Appalachian Highlands Celts invite the public to celebrate the rich history, music and traditions of the Seven Celtic Nations during their 2026 Celtic Festival. Festivities begin Friday evening, Sept. 4, with a community kickoff celebration. The evening opens with the traditional Calling of the Clans and Torch Lighting Ceremony, followed by a reception, Celtic trivia competition with prizes, and a special outdoor concert by Nashville's premiere Celtic band The Jacobites By Name. Friday night's kickoff is free and open to the public. The Appalachian Highlands Celts is a local nonprofit organization made up entirely of volunteers dedicated to preserving and promoting Celtic history, music and culture throughout Northeast Tennessee. On Sept. 19, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tipton-Haynes will host its annual Sorghum Festival. Join local volunteers as they demonstrate how sorghum is made by watching them cook down the juices into sweet molasses. The team will be showing the step-by-step process of making sorghum, including having mules turning the mill. Also, enjoy the open historic house and explore the cave. A biscuit and gravy breakfast with sorghum will be served from 8 to 11 a.m. Breakfast is $10 per adult and $5 for kids under 12. Without breakfast, adults $8 and kids $4. Tipton-Haynes is located at 2620 S. Roan St. in Johnson City. For more information, call 423-926-3631. HISTORIC BLOUNTVILLE Every Friday from 6 to 10 p.m., the Traditional Appalachian Music Heritage Association hosts a free jam session for old-time music in the Anderson Townhouse/Ralph Blizard Museum. Bring an instrument and join in or just stop by and listen while checking out the exhibits. The museum is located in downtown Blountville, across from the old courthouse. TRI-CITIES CIVIL WAR ROUND TABLE The Tri-Cities Civil War Round Table is hosting a presentation by Matthew McClanahan, speaking on the topic "Fields of Conflict: The Impact of Agriculture on the Civil War." McClanahan's presentation will be held at 7 p.m. on Sept. 14 in Room 219 of the Toy F. Reid Eastman Employee Center, 400 S. Wilcox Drive in Kingsport. As always, this presentation is free and open to the public. Agriculture played a critical role during the Civil War, and the war had profound effects on agriculture in return. McClanahan will describe how farmers, crops, labor and food production were affected by the conflict. Attendees will discover how agriculture shaped military strategy, supported soldiers and civilians, and transformed rural life across the nation. The presentation offers a fascinating look at the often-overlooked agricultural story behind one of the most consequential periods in American history. McClanahan serves as general counsel for the Tennessee Department of Agriculture. He earned a juris doctor from the University of Tennessee College of Law. He graduated magna cum laude from Tennessee Tech University with a bachelor's degree in agriculture and a minor in history. NETHERLAND INN AND HISTORIC BOATYARD The annual Junk and Treasure Sale is coming to the Netherland Inn Historic Site on Sept. 18-19 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day. The sale offers bargains on everything from glassware to tools excluding clothing. All proceeds go to the preservation and operation of the Netherland Inn Historic Site. Ned Jilton II is a photographer, history lover and columnist. You can contact him at ndjphoto@aol.com.