Sale, book signings to highlight GSMA’s Thanksgiving weekend activities

Bryson City author George Ellison will discuss his work to write a new introduction to “Our Southern Highlanders” Friday, Nov. 28, at the Swain County Courthouse, home to the ninth Great Smoky Mountains Association store location and the county’s new history museum. The third edition of “Our Southern Highlanders” was released by GSMA last month and includes eight stories by Horace Kephart never before published.

From press release:

With the Thanksgiving weekend just around the corner, Great Smoky Mountains Association plans to say “thank you” to national park visitors with several special activities in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Fast becoming a much-anticipated tradition in the park, GSMA will host a three-day end-of-the-season sale on select merchandise at its Clingmans Dome store location, one of the most popular visitor centers in the park.

“Before the Clingmans Dome Information Center closes for the season at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 30, we’re inviting park visitors to help us celebrate the end of another great year with a Dome blow-out sale starting on ‘Black Friday,’ ” said GSMA marketing and membership director Lisa Duff. “All three days of the extra long holiday weekend above 6,000 feet will feature sales prices, hot drinks, refreshments and more.”

In addition to the Dome sale, a special holiday event has been scheduled at GSMA’s newest location in the historic Swain County Courthouse. Bryson City author George Ellison will be available Friday, Nov. 28, from 10:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. to talk about his work to write a new introduction to “Our Southern Highlanders,” the classic collection of essays on mountain life and lore by author Horace Kephart. A third edition of the book was released by GSMA last month and includes eight articles written by Kephart that were not included in any of the earlier editions.
“With the publication of this latest Kephart book, GSMA now offers a complete series of Kephart books that feature Elizabeth Ellison’s watercolor art on their covers,” said Steve Kemp, the non-profit organization’s director of interpretive products and service. Included in the series are “The Cherokees of the Smoky Mountains,” “Camping and Woodcraft,” “Smoky Mountain Magic” and “Our Southern Highlanders.” A biography of Horace Kephart by George Ellison and Janet McCue is also in the works, Kemp said.

“For those who cannot get to Bryson City on ‘Black Friday’ to meet Mr. and Mrs. Ellison, a second book signing has been scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, this time at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee,” said Duff.

The newly-renovated Swain County Courthouse, which opened to the public this summer in downtown Bryson City, is home not only to GSMA’s ninth National Park Service store, but the county’s history museum. Visitor information on the many attractions in the area is also available from the county Chamber of Commerce. Oconaluftee Visitor Center – which features the park’s newest museum space, a GSMA store and old-time music jam sessions on the porch every other weekend – is also relatively new and was constructed through support from GSMA.

“By ‘shopping the Smokies,’ supporters will most certainly help us continue to support this national park, as does becoming a GSMA member, something that everyone who holds this area in high esteem should consider,” Duff said. GSMA has supported the park with nearly $32 million during its 60+ years of existence, with an additional $1.5 million of giving planned this year.
For more information about GSMA’s work to support this national park and its membership program, visit www.SmokiesInformation.org or call 888.898.9102, Ext. 222 or 254.

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