The Tennessee State Museum’s popular and long-running Haunted Museum Storytelling Festival will return to the Museum on Saturday, October 29, from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. A free event, Haunted Museum brings together some of the state’s finest storytellers to deliver chilling ghost stories from Tennessee’s past for all ages. Guests can also enjoy snacks, games, art activities, and costume parades.
Join the fun in the Forging a Nation gallery for demonstrations of the Museum’s 18th Century printing press. Those attending the Haunted Museum event are invited to wear costumes and join in on the fun. Storytelling will take place in the Grand Hall, Children’s Gallery, and other galleries throughout the Museum.
The popular Nashville Puppet Truck, performing Hansel and Gretel, will set up shop in the Museum’s Digital Learning Center. Some of the stories planned include the Bell Witch and the popular Spearfinger.
This is the first year that American Sign Language (ASL) Interpretation will be provided, by BRIDGES for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. They will be interpreting the 10:30 a.m. Storytime, 12:00 p.m. Puppet Truck, 1:30 p.m. Bell Witch/Spearfinger story, and the 2:30 p.m. Storytime.
“Haunted Museum is easily our most popular event of the year, and probably our favorite event to host,” says Joe Pagetta, Tennessee State Museum director of communications. “It makes the Museum and the many stories of Tennessee’s past truly come alive. There’s excitement in the air the whole day. Plus, it’s something children and their parents and caregivers – visitors of all ages – can enjoy together. And it’s all free!”
Another Event Highlight is Lunch and Learn: Tennessee Folklife with Bob Fulcher & Jay Orr, which happens on Thursday, October 27, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. Tennessee folklife — traditional music, dance, craftwork, lore, and oral histories — has enlivened, beautified, and supported Tennessee culture and families through generations.
The Tennessee State Parks Folklife Project, and related initiatives led by Bob Fulcher, has devoted decades to the documentation and presentation of Tennessee’s folk arts. Learn more about the Folklife Project Collection, and specifically folk arts connected with African American tradition bearers and their communities, in this special Lunch and Learn event. Fulcher will present alongside folklorist and country music historian Jay Orr, who also documented stories as part of the Folklife Project. The session will include recordings and images from the Folklife collection.
Some of the folk life and art to be discussed includes commercial fishing in the 10 counties along the Tennessee River and Reelfoot Lake; African American traditions such as fife and drum bands, white oak basketry, quilting, foodways and the uniqueness of the Free Hill community; “solo fiddle tunes” of the Cumberland Mountains, agricultural lore from the cedar glades and Roan Mountain; the Tennessee Banjo Institute – the first presentation of African griots with America’s greatest banjoists; and the rolley hole marbles tradition of Clay County, which, for 40 years, has attracted more national coverage than any event in Tennessee State Parks.
Lunch options by Apple Spice Nashville are available for pre-order to enjoy during the event. It can be enjoyed virtually by those who wish to watch it online. Learn more on the TSM website Calendar of Events.
Recurring Events at the Museum include Museum Highlight Tours, Tuesday – Saturday at 2:00 p.m.; Frontier Printshop Demos, Every Friday at 1:00 p.m.; Painting the Smokies Gallery Tours, Every Saturday at 1:00 p.m.; and Storytime in the Children’s Gallery, Every Tuesday and Saturday at 10:30 a.m. All recurring events are free of charge and first come, first-served.
