Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

December 2
Fancywork for Beginners & Enthusiasts: Winter Botanicals – 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Meet at the Conference Center. Price is $12/Attendee Only (includes refreshments), $16/ Attendee+Stick & Stitch Sheet of Patterns, $25/Attendee+Project Kit (Pattern Sheet, Towel Blank, Floss, $45/ Attendee+Project Kit+Full Embroidery Kit. Register for the event. Decorative hand-stitched embroidery (fancy work) was all the rage in the early 20th century and continues to be an important traditional art across the world. Although beautiful embroidery work can be complex, every needleworker starts from the beginning.
Join our workshop and take your first steps, or continue a journey you’ve already started (bring a project to show off, if you like!). We’ll look at examples of embroidery and designs inspired by winter plants that can be found here in Roan Mountain. We’ll then review 10-15 basic stitch techniques to help you build your confidence.
*NEW*
Stash Swap: For this workshop, we’ll be hosting a table for stash swapping. If you have embroidery tools and supplies you no longer need, bring them along and pass them to someone who will use them.
Refreshments: Last time was fun, but we needed tea and cookies, so we’ll be doing that this time! If you’d like to volunteer to assist with embroidery workshops, please visit this link.
Full Embroidery Kit Contents: If you are just getting started, this take-home kit provides every basic embroidery tool, and a few handy extras.
Zip Pouch
8″ plastic hoop
Scissors
Needle set
Needle threader
Thimble
Washable transfer pencil & transfer paper
Card-style thread organizer
Beginner Stitch Sampler (pre-printed cloth, to follow along while learning stitches in the workshop)

December 3
Roan Mountain 2023 Volunteer Banquet – 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. Meet at Roan Mountain State Park Conference Center. Register for the event. Roan Mountain State Park has been lucky to have many volunteers join us over the past several years for trail work, events, working with the park animals, maintaining the Miller Farmstead, and much more! All volunteers are invited to be celebrated. This banquet will serve volunteers and their families picnic style foods to include burgers, hotdogs, desserts, and plenty of sides. Over dinner, a short presentation will celebrate the major volunteer accomplishments over the past two years as well as a look forward into plans for 2024.
Volunteers are asked to register the number of people they plan on attending with for a food count. A slideshow presentation of volunteer action shots will also be offered during the event. Volunteers are welcome to submit any photo they wish prior to the event to be added.

December 15
Christmas Céilí at Roan Mountain State Park – 7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Meet at the Conference Center. Price is $2/kids 17 and under, $5/adults. Register for the event. An Irish céilí (or cèilidh if you’re Scottish!) is a traditional social gathering that often includes traditional dance, music, storytelling and all kinds of good fun. In honor of our region’s Scots-Irish heritage we’ll be hosting a fall dance céilí at the Roan Mountain State Park Conference Center.
Highlights include:
Ceili Dances: No previous dance experience is required! These dances are meant for regular people and anyone who can walk comfortably can enjoy learning them.
Traditional Music: The Roan Mountain Céilí Band will play a variety of dance tunes to accompany the dances, and a few other tunes in between (traditional Scottish and Irish musicians are welcome to join us, contact Ranger O’Day for details).
Light Refreshments: Coffee and hot cocoa will be provided, as well as an assortment of holiday treats.
Photo Booth: Attendees are encouraged to dress in festival holiday attire and take photos to celebrate and remember this special holiday event.
Dress comfortably with good shoes and come well-hydrated! This is a ticketed event! Adults 18 and older $5 each, kids 17 and younger $2. Volunteers attend free (contact Ranger O’Day for volunteer opportunities).

December 16
Christmas Craft Spectacular! – 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. Meet at Conference Center. Price is $5 age 4 and under, $10 age 5 and over. Register for the event. ‘Tis the season!
Join Rangers O’Day, Hylen and Holland and our Interpretive Staff for an afternoon of festive Christmas crafts, treats and holiday cheer! We’ll be making traditional and nature-themed ornaments, decorating cookies, and enjoying Christmas refreshments and music!
Fee covers instruction, materials, and refreshments. Children must be accompanied by an adult.