Genealogy Jamboree under way in Cumberland Gap

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Cumberland Gap — where genealogy and history run through the streets — is where the annual Genealogy Jamboree is taking place Thursday, Friday and Saturday of this week.

The event is in its second year in Cumberland Gap, and there’s something for everyone who is interested in tracing their ancestry, or even just learning more about the history of the area. Touted as “a family event where all can learn their genealogical history and heritage,” visitors to the jamboree can see the lifestyles of their pioneer ancestors as well as demonstrations by crafters and military re-enactors.

There will also be genealogy research information available to those who attend, with over 100 surnames represented by family tents with thousands of connected family names, according to organizers. Appalachian and historic writers, family history and research authors and historical novelists will also be on hand to visit with attendees.

Food will be available from vendors including Tazewell’s own Teresa’s Bakery and Deli and from Cumberland Gap’s Webb’s Country Kitchen.

Lecturers and entertainers will be located on the stage at various times. One group being featured as entertainment is Four Leaf Peat (FLP). The group was born out of the Irish traditional music scene in Knoxville, Tennessee, and is dedicated to honoring and preserving the spirit of Irish music. While grounded in tradition and influenced by Ireland’s traditional pipers, fiddlers and singers, FLP also bows a hat to the more recent innovators of Irish music such as The Bothy Band, Planxty, Dervish and Lunasa. After playing together at the local session for some time, this group came together to play a benefit concert in 2004 to save the historic Bijou Theater in downtown Knoxville and have been going strong ever since! Four Leaf Peat will be entertaining the Jamboree crowd beginning at 7 p.m. Friday.

The following schedule of lectures and entertainment is from the event’s website:

Thursday, June 7

7:00pm – 8:00pm Carrie Eldridge – The Reasons Your Ancestors Moved.

Bring your own chair for the events in the town of Cumberland Gap.

Friday, June 8

*1:00pm – 2:00pm Ann Blomquist – The Country Store on the Frontier

*3:00pm – 4:00pm Judy Baker Story Telling “Old traditional Appalachian tales (STORYTELLING)

5:00pm – 6:00pm Ted Yoder – A tribute to Rich Mullins.

7:00pm – 8:00pm Four Leaf Peat – Irish traditional music.

Bring your own chair for the events in the town of Cumberland Gap.

Saturday, June 9

8:30am – 9:00am Presentations

9:00am – 10:00am Carrie Eldridge – The Many Routes to Cumberland Gap.

10.00am – 11:00am Protectors of the America Parade

11:00am – 12:00pm Crossroads – (Music)

1:00pm – 2:00pm Ted Yoder – A tribute to Richard Mullins

2:00pm – 3:00pm Cumberland River Academy

*3:00pm – 4:00pm Randall Jones – Before they were Heroes at Kings Mountain

*4:30pm – 5:30pm Johnnie Sue Bridges – Stories of Dunlap Holler Girl

Cosbys musical group will be with Johnnie Sue Bridges.

5:30pm Gil Bridges of RARE EARTH is signing autographs

7:00pm – 8:00pm Pending

For more information, visit the Genealogy Jamboree’s website at http://genealogyjamboree.us or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/genealogyjamboree.