Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area

09/15/2026

This week, September 15-18, Big South Fork brings world-renowned storytellers to more than 13,000 students in more than 30 schools across six surrounding counties!

Featured storytellers: Amanda Lawrence, Bobby Norfolk, Carolina Quiroga, and Sherry Norfolk will share stories that celebrate culture, history, and creativity through interactive performances. These school visits spark imagination, build community, and keep the art of storytelling alive for the next generation.

All of this leads up to the Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival on Saturday, September 19, at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center area, a day filled with stories, traditions, and fun for all ages.

For more information, visithttps://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/storytelling.htm.

Image: Storyteller speaking at a local school. NPS Photo

09/14/2026

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area has announced the winners of the park’s 2026 photo contest . Photographers were invited to submit striking digital images highlighting the spectacular views, dark night skies, historic sites, recreational opportunities, and diversity of life in the park. Entries to the contest were judged by members of the Southern Appalachian Nature Photographers.

The winners of this year’s contest were:

• First Place, Recreation Category: “Twin Arches” by Rick McCulley.
• First Place, Dark Skies Category: “Milky Way Chimney” by Rick McCulley.
• First Place, Flora and Fauna Category: “Worm Eating Warbler at Honey Creek” by Greg Sulfridge.
• First Place, Kentucky Landscapes: “Tracking Down History” by Kay Powers.
• First Place, Tennessee Landscapes: “Sunburst Morning” by Christopher Barger.
• First Place, Human History: “Blue Skies Over Lora Blevins Farmstead” by Crystal Gail King.
• People’s Choice Award: “Light at the End of the Tunnel” by Hayden Herrington.

Runners up in the contest included “Eastern Copperhead” by Eli Harris, “Blue Heron Mine Train” by Dannie Moore, “Yahoo Falls & Family” by Thomas Cole, “Chasing Light” by Cindy Hatcher, and “Stairway to Immortality” by Duke Surine.

Winning photos will be on display at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center. Photographers are encouraged to grab their cameras and visit the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area. The park will be announcing its 2027 photo contest soon.

09/14/2026

09/14/2026

Start your day outdoors at Big South Fork on Saturday, September 19, with a guided bird walk led by Tennessee ornithologist Dr. Charles Nicholson.

The walk begins at 8:00 AM ET at the Bandy Creek swimming pool and features an easy, 1.1-mile route through the natural beauty of the Cumberland Plateau. With more than 35 years of experience in the Big South Fork area, Dr. Nicholson will share his knowledge of the region’s birds and habitats along the way.

It’s a great way to connect with nature before the 34th Annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival. All ages are welcome. For more information, call (423) 286-7275.

NPS Graphic

09/13/2026

Add a ranger program to your visit this week at Blue Heron Visitor Center!

Explore the stories of Big South Fork through weekly ranger-led programs at Blue Heron Visitor Center. Programs are offered Wednesday-Saturday at 11:45 AM ET and Sunday at 2:45 PM ET. Each program features a different topic exploring the history, culture, and natural resources of the park.

For more information, visit the park calendar at https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.

Program is worth 5 GO BIG points. To learn more about the GO BIG Challenge, visit https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/big-south-fork-go-big-challenge.htm.

Photo: NPS

09/13/2026

Fall is in the air, but there’s still time to GO BIG for summer!

September 21 is the last day to earn points for the Summer GO BIG Lightning Challenge. Explore Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area, Obed Wild & Scenic River, and Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak Ridge and work toward earning your 2026 Summer GO BIG Lightning Challenge Sticker when you reach 25 points. This mini challenge is perfect for explorers on shorter visits who want to learn more while earning points faster!

Collect all four seasonal stickers and earn the special GO BIG 2026 Challenge Patch!

To learn more about the 2026 GO BIG Challenge, please visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/big-south-fork-go-big-challenge.htm.

09/12/2026

Music will fill the air at the 34th Annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival on Saturday, September 19, at Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area.

From hands-on dulcimer workshops and flute circle performances during the day to live music on the main stage that evening, the festival offers plenty to hear. The evening lineup features two performances:

David Howard | 6 p.m. ET
A longtime East Tennessee musician, Howard brings decades of experience performing bluegrass, rock, country, and 1970s folk rock. He also owns Lone Mountain Sound and has played major festivals across the region.

Gerald Hanright | 7 p.m. ET
Based in Rugby, Tennessee, Hanright is a versatile multi-instrumentalist known for his energetic blend of blues, jazz, and classic rock ’n’ roll.

The festival takes place at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center area. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome to enjoy a full day of music and storytelling. For more information, visit https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/storytelling.htm.

Image 1: David Howard
Image 2: Gerald Hanright

09/11/2026

34th Annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival
Saturday, September 19th

Do you want to enjoy the festival but not worry about driving or parking?

Why not stay at Bandy Creek Campground? Within walking distance to the festival, campers can experience beautiful, forested sites with picnic tables, fire rings, and access to restrooms and showers. What's not to love?

For information about the park's five front-country campgrounds, please visit our website: https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/campgrounds.htm

NPS Photo

09/10/2026

Meet the Storytellers of the 34th Annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival!

Storytelling has long been part of Appalachian life, bringing people together through history, humor, and personal experiences. On Saturday, September 19, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area will host the 34th Annual Haunting in the Hills Storytelling Festival at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center area.

This free, family-friendly event will feature storytelling and music throughout the day, and this year’s featured storytellers bring a blend of heritage, humor, and heart:

Amanda Lawrence: An award-winning storyteller from the North Georgia mountains whose performances feature Appalachian lore, family stories, tall tales, folk and fairy tales, and ghost stories. She regularly shares Appalachian lore at the John C. Campbell Folk School, leads workshops on storytelling as a form of healing, and co-founded and directs the Georgia Mountain Storytelling Festival.

Bobby Norfolk: An internationally known story performer and teaching artist, three-time Emmy Award winner, recipient of multiple Parents’ Choice Gold and Silver Awards and a National Storytelling Network Oracle Award, and recipient of an honorary doctorate from the University of Missouri St. Louis.

Carolina Quiroga: A bilingual storyteller sharing Latin American tales from the Rio Grande to Patagonia. She has performed at the National Storytelling Festival and Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, toured schools, libraries, museums, and cultural institutions nationwide, created the podcast Tres Cuentos, and works as a teaching artist with Wolf Trap and Asheville schools.

Sherry Norfolk: An award-winning storyteller, author, and teaching artist who performs and leads educational programs nationally and internationally. A Kennedy Center National Teaching Artist, she has worked with Wolf Trap, Young Audiences, and several state arts commissions and is a recognized leader in using storytelling to support learning across the curriculum.

Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a day of stories, laughter, music, and shared moments. For more information visit https://www.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/storytelling.htm.

Image 1: Amanda Lawrence.
Image 2: Bobby Norfolk.
Image 3: Carolina Quiroga.
Image 4: Sherry Norfolk.

09/10/2026

Have you ever wondered what the bugs buzzing around your house are up to?

Join a park ranger at Bandy Creek Visitor Center on Saturday, September 12, at 2:00 PM ET for a talk on local pollinators and how we can best support them. Come and learn about local species and how to encourage pollinators in your home gardens! This 40-minute program will at the Bandy Creek Visitor Center theater.

For more information, visit the park website at https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?id=1455E888-9137-DFD3-C8B6D428D599CF01.

Program is worth 5 GO BIG points. To learn more about the GO BIG Challenge, visit https://cms.nps.gov/biso/planyourvisit/big-south-fork-go-big-challenge.htm.

Photo credit: H. Bradburn / NPS