[Tennessee Trails News] TTA participation in the Allardt Pumpkin Festival

[The Tennessee Trails List]

 From Anne Wesley:

On Saturday, October 3,  all roads lead to ALLARDT, TN!  Block out your 
calendar, and plan to join Tennessee Trails Association at the 18th 
Annual Allardt Pumpkin Festival !!    This is a fun-filled weekend of 
events surrounding the traditional Giant Pumpkin Weigh-off Competition. 
  Join us for a day or the whole weekend.  All TTA members are more than 
welcome!!

On Friday, October 2, we will camp at beautiful, historic Pickett State 
Park.  You can bring a tent or camper.  Sites are first-come, 
first-served, but we will get a "TTA site" which is suitable for 
multiple tents.  Pickett also offers cabins (call 931-879-5821 to check 
availability).  Bring a chair and gather round the campfire for a 
laid-back evening enjoying the early autumn weather.

Saturday, October 3 is the big day.   Meet in Allardt (Fentress County, 
due east of Jamestown on TN 52 - central time zone) for a variety of 
interesting events.  In the morning, you can shop for crafts/baked 
goods, buy pumpkins and gourds from local growers, listen to live music, 
or pull up a chair to watch the fascinating process of weighing the 
giant pumpkins to determine the 2009 champion.  Around Noon, all TTA 
members gather to decorate our float for the Pumpkin Festival Parade! 
We promote local hiking and our statewide organization by walking in the 
parade and tossing candy to the young ones.  Afterwards we have a short 
hike at the lovely Colditz Cove State Natural Area featuring Northrup 
Falls.  Campers reconvene at Pickett for another evening under a 
nearly-full moon.

Sunday, October 4  - We'll have a short but beautiful hike on the trails 
of Pickett State Park.  Then it's time to load up our pumpkin pies and 
head home.

For more details about the festival in general, visit 
www.allardtpumpkinfestival.com .  For specific information about TTA's 
participation (how to get there, what to bring, how to toss candy 
without maiming children, etc) contact Anne Wesley at ttahiker at msn.com.