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COVID-19 has had effects on our events. For more information, please visit our Keeping Visitors Healthy page.
Please note that all programs, events and tours require masks for all participants.

December 1 – December 31
Support Our Wildlife Ambassadors – Price:
– $10.00 / Feeds one bird a day
– $20.00 / Feeds two birds a day
– $30.00 / Feeds three birds a day
– $40.00 / Feeds four birds a day
– $50.00 / Feeds five birds a day
At Roan Mountain we house, care for, and educate the public on a variety of native animals. We work under an educational permit from TWRA. Currently, we care for three birds of prey and several snakes! As you can imagine, caring for these animals is costly, as their food and health care is a specialty!

All of our animals are non-releasable for a variety of reasons. We frequently program with these animals and never charge for educational programs when using them. Here is your opportunity to support our educational wildlife program and help us care for these animals! 

All donations will go to purchase food, pay vet bills, purchase gloves, tethers, falconry equipment, aquarium bedding, and to improve and build more housing facilities for our non-releasable birds of prey.

To donate click the green “Register for Event” button at the right. Your donation is a one-time payment. If you wish to cover more than one day, update the “quantity” you wish to donate, or simply come back to this page in future months. Thank you for supporting oue Wildlife Ambassadors at Roan Mountain State Park! 

Saturday, December 19

Fiddle for the Absolute Beginner – 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Meet at: Contact Instructor for Detail – Price: $25.00 – Workshop participants will learn the basics of playing the fiddle, including instrument care, tuning, posture, bow hold, fingering, scales, active listening, learning by ear, and more. No matter what kind of fiddle music you’re interested in, the fundamentals are the same! No previous experience is required. All you need is a playable fiddle, a recording device, and a desire to learn. If you’d like some advice on finding a starter fiddle, contact the instructor. This workshop is aimed at the adult learner’s attention span, but teenagers 15 and older are welcome. The workshop will be taught by Park Ranger Marcianne O’Day. Marcianne learned to fiddle from her grandfather, starting at the age of seven. She has a minor in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music from ETSU, was a founding member of the ETSU Celtic Band, has toured Scotland and Ireland, and has been teaching for over ten years. She performs across the Southeast with Irish Traditional Band Sigean and enjoys traditional music in many forms.

Friday, December 4

Water Filtration and Purification – 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm – Meet at: Park Office

Price:
$0.00 / Person
$2.00 / Optional Donation
$5.00 / Optional Donation
$10.00 / Optional Donation
$15.00 / Optional Donation
Water is vital to survival! Join Ranger James Holland to learn how to obtain water in the backcountry and some of the methods and equipment used for filtering and purifying water prior to using it.
Advance registration is required & social distancing guidelines apply.
Participants will meet at the Park Office prior to going to the program area. 

Sunday, December 5
Peg Leg GeoVenture – 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Meet at: Visitor Center Porch – Price: $5.00
Join Ranger Phil Hylen for an expedition to the Peg Leg Mine in search of Roan Mountain’s history as seen in rocks! Enjoy discovering evidence of iron mining at the turn of the 20th century and learn your rocks while breaking up your very own geode to see what treasures hide inside. 
Participants are limited to 10 people and entry costs $5.00 per person. Hike distance is approximately half a mile. 

Friday, December 11

Outdoor Survival for Beginners – 2:00pm – 4:00 pm – Meet at: Main Park Office
Price:
$0.00 / Person
$2.00 / Donation
$5.00 / Donation
$10.00 / Donation
$15.00 / Donation
Join Ranger Holland as we learn about the basics of outdoor wilderness survival.  Topics will include water, food, fire, shelter and signalling for help. This is a beginner program for persons wishing to gain an understanding of the basic skills and knowledge needed to survive in an outdoor wilderness environment. Meet at the main park office at 2:00 pm prior to going to the program area.  Program is free but group size is limited and advance registration is required. Social distancing guidelines apply.

Saturday, December 12
Winter Tree ID Hike – 2:00 PM – Meet at: Picnic Shelter #3 (Campground)
Price:
$0.00 / Person
$2.00 / Optional Donation
$5.00 / Optional Donation
$10.00 / Optional Donation
$25.00 / Optional Donation
Join Park Ranger Phil Hylen for a hike along the Tom Gray Nature Trail in the Park Campground. This free 0.5-mile hike will explore the forests a long the Doe River learning how to identify several of our many trees found on the mountain.  Be sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring warm clothing.  
This hike is limited to 10 people. Advance registration is required and social distancing guidelines apply.

Sunday, December 13
Winter Bird Ornaments – 2:00 PM – Meet at: TEC Lodge (Old Restaurant Building Beside Cabin 3)
Price: $10.00 / Person
Celebrate all the beauty of winter and the holidays as we craft ornaments after our beautiful wintering birds of Tennessee.  Enjoy bringing your favorite birds to life as a take-home ornament while learning more about these flighted wonders. 

Saturday, December 19
Fiddle for the Absolute Beginner – 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Meet at: Contact Instructor for Details. Price: $25.00
Workshop participants will learn the basics of playing the fiddle, including instrument care, tuning, posture, bow hold, fingering, scales, active listening, learning by ear, and more. No matter what kind of fiddle music you’re interested in, the fundamentals are the same!
No previous experience is required. All you need is a playable fiddle, a recording device, and a desire to learn. If you’d like some advice on finding a starter fiddle, contact the instructor. This workshop is aimed at the adult learner’s attention span, but teenagers 15 and older are welcome.
The workshop will be taught by Park Ranger Marcianne O’Day. Marcianne learned to fiddle from her grandfather, starting at the age of seven. She has a minor in Bluegrass, Old-Time, and Country Music from ETSU, was a founding member of the ETSU Celtic Band, has toured Scotland and Ireland, and has been teaching for over ten years. She performs across the Southeast with Irish Traditional Band Sigean and enjoys traditional music in many forms.

Tomahawk Challenge – 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Price: $15.00
As iron sharpens iron, test your mettle and might in our first-ever Roan Mountain State Park axe-throwing competition. Challengers from neighboring coves and across the globe are invited to participate. Bring your A game. 
Rustic prizes for first and second place. 
Competition will be adjudicated by Ranger James Holland. Axes provided. No previous axe-throwing experience is required to enjoy this fun program. 

Sunday, December 20

Irish Traditional Music Session – 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. – Meet at: Contact Program Leader – Price: FREE-  An Irish “session” is an informal gathering of musicians who play Irish Traditional Music. It’s like a music jam, but with a set repertoire of tunes and a very specific style. Experienced Irish Traditional Musicians (melody instruments only) are welcome to join.  Due to COVID-19, this event is limited to 10 total participants (Irish Musicians) and advance registration is required. CDC recommendations apply.  To register, contact the program leader.