Horace Kephart has been dead for 88 years, but his name and his story still pull an undercurrent through Western North Carolina.

Kephart is acclaimed as the father of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, an outdoorsman gifted with an adventurous soul, and the author of such staples of regional literature as Our Southern Highlanders and Camping and Woodcraft. Join us at the Meadowlark Smoky Mountain Heritage Center to celebrate his life and work with ceremonies, hikes, stories, music and historical displays.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FRIDAY, AUGUST 13

11:00 AM: CEREMONY AT HORACE KEPHART GRAVE: Led by Libby Kephart Hargrave and friends. (Get directions at Motel front desk)

1:30 PM -2:30 PM: WATERFALL HIKE, DEEP CREEK ENTRANCE OF GSMNP: Led by Libby and friends, meet in trail head parking lot at 1:15 PM

7:00 PM -8:00 PM: MEET AND GREET AT MEADOWLARK MOTEL: Hosted by Libby Kephart Hargrave and other family members, with guests, Dale Stewart, Pam Meister and Bob Plott (CD music in background)

8:15 PM – 9:30 PM: CAMPFIRE TALKS AND READINGS FROM KEPHART BOOKS: Led by Libby and friends.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS FOR SATURDAY, AUGUST 14

10:00 AM: DISPLAY OF ACTUAL KEPHART KNIFE COURTESY OF WCU AND LECTURE: Guest speakers, Dale Stewart, Libby Kephart Hargrave and Pam Meister, Director of WCU Mtn. Heritage Center.

11:00 AM: KEPHART KNIVES FOR SALE AND DISCUSSION WITH KNIFEMAKER: Shane Plott, expert knifemaker and blacksmith will host, moderated by Bob Plott

1:00 PM: DISPLAY OF VINTAGE HUNTING GUNS FROM KEPHART ERA AND PROGRAM BY RAYMOND BUNN: We are honored to be joined by renowned gunsmith and historical firearms expert Raymond Bunn, who offered superb commentary on this topic in George Ellison’s and Janet McCue’s award- winning bio of Kephart.

2:00 PM: OLD TIME STRING MUSIC AND SONGS FROM THE BACK OF BEYOND: With renowned musician, artist and historian, William Ritter.

3:30 PM: SHOWING OF HORACE KEPHART DOCUMENTARY FILM: Hosted by Libby with question and answer session after film.

5:00 PM: PREMIER OF TRAILER FOR NEW AUDIO LEONARD KEPHART DOCUMENTARY: With legendary explorer, writer and artist Dale Stewart.

5:30 PM: UNVEILING OF PAINTING: Hosted by artist Joanne Kephart Bleichner.

6:00 PM: SUPPER BREAK

7:30 PM: CAMPFIRE TALKS AND KEPHART MEMORIES: With Libby and friends.

9:00 PM: EVENT ENDS