Finding a state park in your own backyard is easy to do and you don’t have to spend a lot of gas money to get there!

Tennessee State Parks offer a variety of activities and events throughout the winter. From great hikes to bluegrass – there’s something designed for the entire family!

Here are just a few state park events in your area.

Cedars of Lebanon

Named for its dense cedar forest, Cedars of Lebanon State Park offers camping, hiking and so much more! The park will host a variety of events this Independence Day Weekend from Friday, July 1st through Monday, July 4th. Special hikes, a campfire and jug band presentation, a pinecone feeder workshop and even a Civil War talk – there’s something for everyone and every age. Be sure to stop by the Cedars of Lebanon visitor center for a complete schedule of events.

Fall Creek Falls State Park

Fall Creek Falls will hold its Annual Fourth of July Celebration this Monday! Dress up your car, your bike or yourself for the park’s “traditional” parade, which ends in Campground A. After watermelon and cake, participants will move to the field for events such as sack races, the egg toss, water balloon toss and other family favorites! For more information, please call 423-881-5708.

Fall Creek Falls State Park’s Summer Concert Series offers live music every weekend through September 5th. Featuring an array of artists, including country, bluegrass and folk, all concerts begin at 7:30pm (CDT) and will run approximately two hours. Admission is $3.00 and children six and under are admitted free. Hickory Wind will be the featured artists on Saturday, July 2nd, followed by Fredonia Bluegrass on Monday, July 4th.

Bledsoe Creek State Park

Located off of Highway 25 in Sumner County, this 164-acre park is situated on the Bledsoe Creek embayment of the U.S. Corps of Engineers Old Hickory Reservoir near the old 1780s settlement of Cairo. Offering boating, fishing and hiking – the park also has an outstanding campground, which was recently renovated.

Here are some great July 4th Weekend activities at Bledsoe Creek State Park:

Friday, July 1st

• 11:00am – Arts and Crafts: Meet at shelter 1 on Raccoon Creek Road.
• 3:00pm to 4:00pm – Flag Folding Program – Meet at shelter 1 on Raccoon Creek Road
• 7:30pm – Friday Night Movie: TBA

Saturday, July 2nd

• 10:00am – Scavenger Hunt Hike / Mayo Wix Trail: Meet at park office.
• 3:00pm – Horseshoe and Corn Hole Tournament: Meet at game area on Deer Run Road.
• 5:00pm – Arts and Crafts: Meet at Shelter 1 on Raccoon Creek Road.

Sunday, July 3rd

• 11:00am – Photo Scavenger Hunt / Tye Dye Party: Bring your own item to dye or get a bandana from the park. Meet at Shelter 1 on Raccoon Creek Road.
• 2:00pm – Arts and Crafts: Meet at Shelter 1 on Raccoon Creek Road.
• 6:00pm – Decorative Campsite Contest / Awards – Meet at Shelter 2 on Raccoon Creek Road.

Monday, July 4th

• Noon to 2:00pm – Pot Luck, Karaoke, Face Painting and More: Meet at Shelter 2 on Raccoon Creek Road.
• 2:00pm to 5:00pm – Family Fun Day – Tug o’ war, 3-legged races, balloon toss, sack races: Meet at stage area on Raccoon Creek Road.

Long Hunter State Park

Long Hunter State Park is holding a number of great Fourth of July events this weekend. Boat rentals at Couchville Lake are officially open and ready for summertime visitors. Park management also recently announced that the Couchville Lake paved trail is open after weather-related clean-up efforts.

Other activities scheduled at Long Hunter include:

Campfire Night at the Park: Friday, July 1st at 7:00pm – Join Ranger Ponda for the latest installment of the park’s “Friday Night at the Park” series, relax under the stars and enjoy some s’mores! Feel free to bring snacks, musical instruments, games, stories or any other campfire-appropriate items. Meet at Group Camp 1 (behind the park office).

Snakes of Tennessee: Saturday, July 2nd at 2:00pm – Come learn about the snakes of Tennessee and how to quickly identify venomous and non-venomous snakes. There might even have a reptilian visitor or two!

Day Loop Nature Hike: Sunday, July 3rd at 9:00am – Let’s hit the trails! Join the park for this four-mile nature hike on the Day Loop Trail and enjoy breathtaking views from high atop the bluffs of Percy Priest Lake. Be sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Please meet at the Volunteer Trail/Day Loop trailhead on Bakers Grove Road.

Independence Field Day: Monday, July 4th at 10:00am – Celebrate Independence Day at the park with field games, sports, Frisbee and other family fun. Participants will also enjoy some juicy watermelon! Feel free to bring your own games or outdoor recreation equipment.

Burgess Falls State Park

Burgess Falls State Park and Natural Area in Sparta will host the Seventh Annual Butterfly Garden Celebration from 9:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday, July 16th. A variety of educational programs will be offered in the award-winning Native Butterfly Garden and surrounding park for this event. Scheduled programs will include:

• 9:00am – Walk in the Woods: State Naturalist Randy Hedgepath will take participants on an easy hike through the forest, talking about trees and telling their stories. Participants will meet at the River Trail/Service Road Loop trailhead.
• 10:00am – Goodness Snakes Alive: Slither over to the park amphitheater to learn about some of the park’s cold-blooded residents.
• 11:00am – Dragonflies and Damselflies: Join Richard Connors for an easy walk, learning how to identify these unique insects. This program will begin at the park amphitheater, and participants are encouraged to bring binoculars.
• 11:00am – Landscaping with Native Plants: Meet at the amphitheater to learn how to landscape with native plants and attract butterflies and other wildlife to your own yard.
• Noon and 2:00pm – Butterfly Identification Walk: Middle Tennessee Naturalist John Froeschauer will lead an informal butterfly identification “walk and talk,” beginning in the open garden and continuing into the nearby woodland habitat. His talk will focus on native butterfly food and nectar plants. Participants are encouraged to bring binoculars. The program will be held at noon, with a repeat presentation at 2:00pm.
• Noon – Creek Studies: Participants will learn to measure a stream’s health by observing the animals that live in it. They will meet at the picnic pavilion and should wear wading shoes.
• 1:00pm – Medicinal and Edible Plants: Meet at the amphitheater for a short walk to look at some plants used for a variety of ailments and foods.
• 2:00pm – Hike to the Big Falls Overlook: Participants will join the park’s Ranger staff for an hour-long hike from the picnic shelter to the main falls overlook. They should wear sturdy shoes and bring water. Meet at the amphitheater.

Burgess Falls is a 350-acre park, which lies on the rugged Eastern Highland Rim in Putnam and White counties. It is noted for its sheer bluffs, narrow ridges, waterfalls and diverse forests. The Burgess Falls Native Butterfly Garden was created by park staff, the Putnam County Master Gardeners, countless volunteers and the Iris Fund group.

South Cumberland State Park

Located near Monteagle, South Cumberland is one of the newer Tennessee State Parks. Almost the entire park lies atop the Cumberland Plateau and, unlike most state parks, South Cumberland is made up of ten different areas located in four different counties. Be sure to check out these upcoming hikes and activities at beautiful South Cumberland State Park (call 931-924-2980 for more information):

Native American Hike: Join Ranger James on Monday, July 18th, at 10:00am at the Grundy State Forest’s parking area for an easy two-mile hike around the day loop trail. Bring water, snacks, and good hiking shoes and be prepared to learn how the Native Americans survived in wooded areas like the Fiery Gizzard.

Environmental Change Hike: Join Ranger James on Tuesday, July 19th, at the Grundy State Forest’s parking area at 2:00pm for an easy two-mile hike around the day loop trail. Bring water, snacks, wear good hiking shoes and bug spray and be prepared to learn about past and future environmental changes to the Grundy State Forest area.

About Tennessee State Parks

Tennessee’s 53 state parks and 81 natural areas offer diverse natural, recreational and cultural experiences for individuals, families, or business and professional groups. State park features range from pristine natural areas to 18-hole championship golf courses. For a free brochure about Tennessee State Parks, call toll free 1-888-867-2757. For additional information, visit our Web site at www.tnstateparks.com.

Marching band flying their colors!

Pageants, parades, catfish races- yes, catfish racing is real!; mule pulls, carnival amusement and good times highlight the annual Paris Fish Fry.

With participation from many areas of West Tennessee, from Hardeman County, McEwen, to Martin, Dresden, Puryear, Jackson to Henry County and points in between; Paris, Tennessee staged the 56th running of the annual Fish Fry. This event has enjoyed recognition by the Guinness Book of World Record organizations as the largest continuous public fish fry to be documented anywhere in the world.

Henry County Sheriff Deputies ready for crowd control

There was a palette of activities to whet the appetite of any festival aficionado. Beauty pageants directly tied to the fish fry were staged earlier in the beginning of the year. In addition to the two pageants staged in Paris, there were at least a dozen other beauty pageant winners greeting well-wishers at the Saturday parade. Junior and Senior High School bands from many communities of West Tennessee, along with banner flag and rifle teams all participated in the 200-plus unit community pageantry spectacle.

Add to that the roving vendors selling everything from bottled water and other refreshments, carnival souvenirs and blow-up toys, to scout troops passing out fliers for future cultural fairs and events for later in the year along with emergency response vehicle entries. Among the public notables in this year’s parade were Rep. Sammy Goldstein as Grand Marshall, Lt. Governor Ron Ramsey representing Governor Bredesen, along with  Democratic Party gubernatorial candidate Kim McMillan.

Pageant Royalty abounds in the parade

Other elements in the parade included local, regional and state level politicians, political party officials, classic and antique cars, 4-H type youth groups, various ‘little tykes’ pageant winners, clowns, civic groups, Henry County Medical Center, the Humane Society, Dresden’s Iris Festival, the Strawberry Festival, hot rod and drag racing teams, veterans organizations, church groups, coon hunting club dogs, rodeo riders and show horses and law enforcement elements from Martin, Henry, Jackson and Dover in their own vehicles or riding on donated all-terrain sports equipment and the participation level surpasses 280 units associated with the parade. Even at this level of participation, locals told this reporter that this was a smaller parade than in years past when the parade easily  lasted three or four hours. As it was this year’s parade was an hour and a half of street festival of spectacle, people watching and cheering!

The conclusion of the parade unleashed the full-fledged barrage of attendants onto  the festival grounds. There, the carnival attractions, arts and crafts vendors tent  and rodeo grounds awaited the day’s visitors. Visitors were to be seen everywhere taking advantage of the vast variety of attractions, distractions and enticements offered on the fairgrounds.

Thrill ride at the festival grounds

Games of skill, bungee cord somersaulting, a carousel and a Ferris wheel, children’s dragon roller coaster and mini-train and along with several G-force intensive thrill rides competed for the attention of fair attendees. Tilt-a-Whirl, Spinning Cups, The Floor Drop and Vertical Rapid Descent were all part of the varied rides that tantalized the more adventurous. Little ones and young people of all ages filled the fairgrounds with their laughter, greetings and good fellowship that abounded at every turn. Families were readily visible enjoying the delights to be had and the camaraderie that these good times produced. With all this activity to be had, refreshment stands were seeing a brisk business as lemonade coolers sold steadily and funnel cakes also proved quite popular.

The fish fry operation itself was in full swing, having started at 10 AM and would continue to 9 PM.  The ten dollar all-you-can-eat ticket price entitled you to hush puppies, white beans, your choice of either an excellent vinegar slaw or mayonnaise slaw, french fries and a heaping helping of fried catfish fillets and your choice Pepsi product beverage, iced tea or bottled water.

With the amount of food consumed in the three days of fish fry operations, it’s easy to see how such a record was established.  Here are the statistics from last year’s event upon which this year’s food preparation projections are based.

• 10,000 pounds of catfish fillets
• 2,460 pounds of white beans
• 1,250 pounds of mayonnaise slaw
• 1,250 pounds of vinegar slaw (from Knott’s Landing Restaurant)
• 3,900 pounds of french fries
• 500 gallons of vegetable cooking oil
• 8 gallons Hot Sauce (10 oz. bottles)
• 48 gallons Tartar Sauce
• 630 pounds of Ketchup
• 8,000 pounds of Ice
• 6,000 gallons of Pepsi Products
• 3,000 pounds of Self-Rising Corn Meal
• 3,000 pounds of Self-Rising Flour
• 400 pounds of diced onions
• 81 gallons of buttermilk
• 1,500 eggs

The man who oversees the ‘prep’ teams and all food preparations is Tater Hayes. The prep teams have horned their process to a finely tuned production line. The ladies prep teams prepared the hush puppy mix by hand until last year when they finally got a professional-grade mixer. They prepare ten- forty quart plastic tote- batches of hush puppy mix per hour; each batch yields between 200-300 hush puppies. Twenty-eight hours of fish frying yields a ton of hush puppies. An interesting side note, each 40 quart tote mix uses thirty-six eggs.

The cooking team consist of at least two men, using melon ball scoopers, to immerse the hush puppies into the cooking oil. Two other men wait to scoop them out as they bob up on the surface for a continuous production process. The target cooking temperature for the hush puppy oil is 310 degrees F. According to Jeff Morris, head of the hush puppy cooking squad, the batches are ready in five to seven minutes.

Tater said the catfish fillets thaw in a running water water bath of 300 pounds at a time for forty-five minutes to one hour per tub. Two tubs are in operation through  out the cooking day. The fillets are then drained and breaded. Ten to fifteen pounds of fish go into each fry pot once the oil reaches the target temperature of 325 to 350 degrees F. This drops as the fish is added but returns as the fish cook for fifteen to twenty minutes until golden brown. The french fries are cooked in separate fry pots at 350 degrees F. They generally cook up in ten to twelve minutes.

Tater's fabled Foil Ball!

Another interesting side note to the fish fry lore is “Tater’s Aluminum Foil Ball.” Every night at the end of cooking, the fry pots are drained, cleaned and filled with fresh cooking oil. Then they are covered with foil to keep the oil fresh and ready for the next day’s start. Ten years ago, Hayes balled up a sheet of this discarded foil and began to collect the remaining sheets, adding them to the soon growing ball. Ten years later, the ball has become a feature of the parade where it is displayed in the back of one of the all-terrain utility vehicles used in the parade. It has grown to an impressive height and girth and weight. See the accompanying photo.

Finally, it was time to sample the fish fry’s claim to fame. Hushpuppies, white beans, french fries, Knott’s Landing Vinegar slaw and catfish fillets filled my plate. Special note is given of the hushpuppies as deliciously seasoned, the vinegar slaw was wonderfully delicious, and the fish fillets were golden, fully cooked and lightly but fully seasoned.

To anyone who has not yet attended, make this a ‘Must Do’ for 2010 and beyond. You won’t be disappointed.

View more photos of the 2009 Worlds Biggest Fish Fry at our Photo Gallery

The entry deadline schedule is as follows:

• Arts and Crafts: Deadline April 11. $100 per 10X10 booth.
• Grand Parade: Deadline April 22 (fees paid at time of entrry). Commercial Ad, $50. Cars/Motorcycles: $25. Car Clubs, $10 per vehicle (must be actual club).  Trailers, $50. Float/Boat $20. Marching Unit: $5.
• Small Fry Parade: Dealine April 23 @ 5 p.m.  $5 per entry.
• Jr. Fishing Rodeo Entry: Deadline — Bring forms to Williams Lake on day of event.

Please refer directly to the entry forms  and applications for the listed categories.  These forms will also be available at our Headquarters which will be opening on March 28th on East Wood Street next to Paint Plus.

The Fish Fry kicks off on April 20 with  a dance to be held Monday, April 20 from 7-9 p.m. at the Henry County Fairgrounds Pavilion.

The festivities continue on Tuesday, April 21, with a carnival from 5-11 p.m. at the school/ Fairgrounds.  An armband allowing admission to the event is $20, less a $5 coupon.  A country dance will be held from 7-9 p.m. at the Enoch building on the fairgrounds. Admission to the dance is $5.

How much fish can you eat? As much as you want fior a $10 bill. The Fish Fry commences Wednesday, April 22 from 5-9 p.m. at the Fish Tent on the fairgrounds. The carnival continues from 5-11 p.m. (admission armband $20). A Christian Concert will be staged at 7 p.m. with a $2 admission. All of nthese events take place at the fairgrounds.

On Thursday, April 23, festivities include an Arts and Crafts show at the Enoch Building at the fairground from 5-8:30 p.m. . The all-you-can-eat Fish Fry runs from 5-9 p.m., and the Carnival continues from 5-11. p.m.  At 7:30 p.m., the festivities will feature the IPRA rodeo, with admission of $9 per adult, $8 per child.

On Friday, April 24,  the World’s Biggest Fish Fry continues with  daylong arts and crafts from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Enoch Building. A Grand Parade will kick off at East Wood Street at 10 a.m. The Fish Fry continues with servings from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., and the carnival runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The IPRA Rodeo resumes at 7:30 p.m..

On Saturday, April 25,  events include the Horse and Mule Farm Pulling Contest with weigh-ins from 7-9 a.m. at the fairgrounds and the contests starting at 10 a.m.  Children take center stage at 10 a.m. with the downtown “Small Fry” parade around town square. The Catfish Races will be held downtown at 10:30 a.m..  The Jr. Fishing Rodeo is offered free at Williams lake from noon to 3 p.m..

Arts and Crafts Shows continue from 10 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the fairgrounds. The Carnival continues from 5 p.m. to midnight. And the Fish tent continues to serve up meals from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Another round of IPRA Rodeo begins at 7:30 p.m.

The World’s Biggest Fish fry wraps up on Sunday, April 26, with the carnival running from 1-6 p.m.