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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.

Saturday, October 17
Peg Leg GeoVenture – 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. – Price is $10.00 – Register for Event – Guests will start their adventure at the Visitor Center Porch and learn some basic geology and history of the area before setting off on a 0.4 moderate difficulty hike along the Peg Leg Mine Trail examining the relicts of iron mining activity from the turn of the 20th century.  At the end of the hike, participants will crack open their very own geodes to see what is inside!  
This program is limited to 10 people and will cost $10.00 per person.  Guests are encouraged to bring good hiking shoes and have clothing for any weather scenario as October weather can be unpredictable in Roan Mountain.   Meet at Visitor Center Porch.

Sunday, October 18
Irish Traditional Music Session – 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. – 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. The price is Free. Meet at Contact Program Leader.

Protecting Our Hemlocks – 3 p.m. – 4p.m. –
Price:
$0.00 / Person
$5.00 / Optional Donation
$10.00 / Optional Donation
$25.00 / Optional DonationGuests will learn why these unique trees are so important to our mountain streams and cove forests and how they are losing a battle against an army of small insects.  Guests will learn the skills and equipment needed to help our Hemlocks and take these techniques home to treat their own Hemlocks on their properties.  Meet at Visitor Center Porch.

Tuesday, October 20
Fiddlers Club: Weekly Group Lesson – 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Price is $10.00 – Lessons are taught by Park Ranger Marcianne O’Day and focus on traditional tunes and playing techniques. 

All you need to participate is a working fiddle, a desire to learn, and a little time to practice. The more you can practice, the quicker you’ll make progress, but even if you only have a few minutes a day and show up for lessons on a regular basis, you’ll fit in fine. Everyone progresses at their own pace and the group setting means that we all learn and benefit from each other’s questions (and struggles). This group class is for adult learners although teenagers older than 15 are welcome to join.

There are two ways to join up:
1) If you’ve had previous experience (maybe you had a year or less of lessons, and/or it has been a long time and you remember just a little) register online or in person, and show up to the lesson. Folks in the lesson are moving at different speeds and you’ll fall right in.
2) If you’ve never played before, or you feel like you’d be starting over from the beginning, start by registering for an Absolute Beginner’s Fiddle Workshop. They are offered on one Saturday each month. Once you’ve got the basics down, you’re welcome to join the weekly group lesson.
If you have questions about our class, or need help finding an instrument, if you want to get started as a complete beginner, or would like to try but have some anxiety about it, contact the instructor. She’ll answer questions and talk you into coming. Meet at contact instructor for details.

Friday, October 23
Autumn Hike to Ravens Rock – 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Price:
– $0.00 / Person
– $2.00 / Optional Donation
– $5.00 / Optional Donation
– $10.00 / Optional Donation
– $24.00 / Optional Donation
– Park Ranger Phil Hylen will lead your morning trek along the moderate to strenuous difficulty Raven Rock Trail starting at 9:00 AM on Friday, October 23rd.  Participants will meet at the campground check-in station before setting off on a 1.2 mile loop hike.  The hike will offer deep cove forest paths in the valley before ascending to ridge top views of the surrounding mountains as seen from Ravens Rock.  Participation is limited to 9 people.  Register your free spot today!  

Campfire Cocoa – 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. – 
Price:
$0.00 / Person
$2.00 / Optional Donation
$5.00 / Optional Donation
$10.00 / Optional Donation
$25.00 / Optional Donation
Enjoy a classic evening of campfire tales & hot cocoa with Ranger Holland. Cocoa will be provided. Group size is limited and social distancing guidelines apply. Bring your own mug & Go Green with us! Dress for the weather & meet Ranger Holland at park headquarters.  Meet at Park Headquarters.

Saturday, October 24
Birding Excursion to Hampton Creek Cove – 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. –  Meet at Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area. Price is $10.00 – Enjoy a morning birding expedition around beautiful Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area with Park Ranger Phil Hylen.  Guests will meet at the Roan Mountain State Park Visitor Center before motorcading to the natural area.  Hampton Creek offers a wide range of habitats and the expedition will explore field and forest edges along a 1.5 mile route.  Good hiking shoes, water, and a camera are encouraged.  
This expedition is limited to 10 people at a cost of $10.00 per person.  Register your spot today for this beautiful adventure in the shadows of the Roan Highlands.  

Fiddle for the Absolute Beginner – 2:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Price is $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. Meet at: Contact Instructor for details.

Tuesday, October 27
Fiddlers Club: Weekly Group Lesson – 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. – Price is $10.00 – Lessons are taught by Park Ranger Marcianne O’Day and focus on traditional tunes and playing techniques. 

All you need to participate is a working fiddle, a desire to learn, and a little time to practice. The more you can practice, the quicker you’ll make progress, but even if you only have a few minutes a day and show up for lessons on a regular basis, you’ll fit in fine. Everyone progresses at their own pace and the group setting means that we all learn and benefit from each other’s questions (and struggles). This group class is for adult learners although teenagers older than 15 are welcome to join.

There are two ways to join up:
1) If you’ve had previous experience (maybe you had a year or less of lessons, and/or it has been a long time and you remember just a little) register online or in person, and show up to the lesson. Folks in the lesson are moving at different speeds and you’ll fall right in.
2) If you’ve never played before, or you feel like you’d be starting over from the beginning, start by registering for an Absolute Beginner’s Fiddle Workshop. They are offered on one Saturday each month. Once you’ve got the basics down, you’re welcome to join the weekly group lesson.
If you have questions about our class, or need help finding an instrument, if you want to get started as a complete beginner, or would like to try but have some anxiety about it, contact the instructor. She’ll answer questions and talk you into coming. Meet at contact instructor for details.

Friday, October 30 
Outdoor Survival for Beginners – 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Meet at Main Park Office – Price is Free. 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, October 31
Tree Cookie Canvas – 1 p.m. – ? – Pirce is $10.00 per person, $5.00 for Children 12 and under. Tree Cookie Canvas! Join Ranger Holland(who still can’t color inside the lines) as we express our artistic side using a natural canvas. Tree cookie discs and other supplies will be provided and participants will be able to take home the painting made during the program. We will meet at the visitor center prior to going to the program area. 

Sunday, November 1 – 30, 2020
Support Our Wildlife Ambassadors
All Month 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.
Thank you for supporting our Wildlife Ambassadors at Roan Mountain State Park!