"Papa" Joe Smiddy at the "Papa" Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival
Dr. “Papa” Joe Smiddy and Reedy Creek will headline, along with ETSU Bluegrass Band and ETSU Old Time Band, at the ninth annual “Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival”. The festival is held each year on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend at the Natural Tunnel State Park amphitheater, this year, it will be on September 4.
The University of Virginia at Wise Chancellor Emeritus Dr. Joseph C. “Papa Joe” Smiddy, a well-known old time musician, entertainer and educator.
Selected performers from this summer’s "Pickin’ in the Park" will begin the festival at 5:00 p.m.. Daniel Boner will be the emcee. In addition to the featured groups a jam will be held at 9:00 p.m. The festival is an official event ofDuffield Daze.
The amphitheater at Natural Tunnel State Park is proud to be a partner in this trail.
Natural Tunnel State Park's amphitheater is an affiliated partner along "The Crooked Road"
A crowd gathers for the "Papa" Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival
Proceeds will go to the Cove Ridge Foundation Papa Joe Smiddy Scholarship Fund. Reserved tickets may be purchased at Natural Tunnel State Park. Tickets may be purchased using a credit card by calling (276) 940-2674. General admission tickets are $10.00 when bought in advance or $15.00 at the gate (bring lawn chair or blanket.) Children 12 & under will be admitted FREE as general admission with paying adult.
General admission tickets are available at Addington Oil, Weber City; Kingsport Chamber of Commerce; Midtown Quik Stop, Gate City; and Natural Tunnel State Park.
For more information about the festival, visit our website..
Natural Tunnel State Park is in Scott County, about 13 miles north of Gate City and 20 miles north of Kingsport, TN. To get there, from I-81, take U.S. 23 North to Gate City (about 20 miles). The turn-off to the park is at mile marker 17.4 on Rt. 23. Take Natural Tunnel Parkway about one mile east to park entrance.
Drive Time: Northern Virginia, eight hours; Richmond, six hours; Tidewater/Norfolk/Virginia Beach, eight to nine hours; Roanoke, three and a half hours.
Natural Tunnel State Parkis located at 1420 Natural Tunnel Parkway. Duffield, VA 24244-9361. For more information about the park,click here.
For general park information, visitour website. Reservations can be made by calling 1-800-933-7375 oron line.