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The Butler Museum

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A Kayaker's View

See Watauga Lake up-close from a Kayak

Watauga Lake Triathlon

Swim over 1,000 yards in a deep lake, race in your bike over 21 miles through the mountains, THEN... run 5 miles ...

2007 Shady Valley Tennessee Cranberry Festival Photos


2007 Cranberry Festival in Shady Grove Tennessee near Watauga Lake Tennessee

All photos and illustrations by Pat Johns ©2007
All Rights Reserved
See links to article references at the end of the article.

go to page 2 for more photos

October, 2007
The 2007 Cranberry Festival was held in the beautiful mountain valley town of Shady Valley Tennessee on October 12th and 13th.
2007 Cranberry Festival singers in Shady Grove Tennessee near Watauga Lake Tennessee

2007 Cranberry Festival in Shady Grove Tennessee near Watauga Lake Tennessee

The festival celebrates the over 10,000 acres of cranberry bogs that used to cover the valley. Many of the valley's trees were eliminated as the area developed and in 1963 the Army Corps of Engineers drained the valley to improve the land’s agricultural potential and diversity.

2007 Cranberry Festival singers in Shady Grove Tennessee near Watauga Lake Tennessee

2007 Cranberry Festival in Shady Grove Tennessee near Watauga Lake Tennessee

Today the Nature Conservancy is spearheading a project to make conditions right for the return of a portion of those bogs. Some local citizens oppose that project.

2007 Cranberry Festival singers in Shady Grove Tennessee near Watauga Lake Tennessee

2007 Cranberry Festival in Shady Grove Tennessee near Watauga Lake Tennessee

But all come together for the Cranberry Festival. Proceeds from the festival help support to support the maintenance of the Shady Valley School building , a 1930s WPA project.

2007 Cranberry Festival singers in Shady Grove Tennessee near Watauga Lake Tennessee

2007 Cranberry Festival in Shady Grove Tennessee near Watauga Lake Tennessee

Saturday starts with a parade not far from the school. Music was provided by the Johnson County High School Band.

Tri Cities Miata Club at the 2007 Cranberry Festival singers in Shady Grove Tennessee near Watauga Lake Tennessee

go to page 2 for more photos

Links to references in this article: