Sunday at Ijams Park: bluegrass on the plaza, stories under the trees
The third-Sunday jam is free and open to anyone who brings an acoustic instrument, the Smoky Mountain Storytellers take the trails at two, and yoga opens the afternoon at 11:30.
- Sun Aug 16
- Self Care Sunday Yoga with Hope Irwin · 11:30 AM · Visitor Center
- Sun Aug 16
- Stories from Nature, Smoky Mountain Storytellers · 2–3:30 PM
- Sun Aug 16
- East TN Bluegrass Association jam · 2–5 PM · free
- Bring
- Any acoustic bluegrass instrument — no harmonicas, no spoons
After a weekend of festival crowds, Ijams Park turns the volume back down on Sunday — but not all the way off. Two o'clock is the good hour: an open bluegrass jam on one side of the property, an afternoon of storytelling on the other.
The jam, which anyone can join
The East Tennessee Bluegrass Association's monthly jam runs 2 to 5 on the third Sunday, and August 16 is the third Sunday. It's free, it's open to the public, and every skill level is welcome — you don't audition, you just find a spot in the circle. All acoustic bluegrass instruments are invited, though the association is on record drawing the line at harmonicas and spoons. Warm weather puts it outside on the plaza. If you don't play, come sit and listen; that's a role too.
And the rest of the afternoon
Hope Irwin's Self Care Sunday yoga starts at 11:30 at the Visitor Center, and at two the Smoky Mountain Storytellers Association brings Stories from Nature out to the trails until 3:30 — registration requested. Yoga, then pick your two o'clock: banjos or bedtime stories for grown-ups.
