The 15th Annual Gathering of The Seatweavers Guild in Jonesborough, Tennessee’s oldest town and dubbed the “Storytelling Capital of the World”, is rapidly approaching and plans for an exciting weekend are coming together.  We are planning for an exciting program at the McKinney Center involving the many talented artists in TSWG in addition to Curtis Buchanan, an internationally recognized local Windsor chairmaker, talking about his involvement in making chairs out of native materials through the Green Wood Project in Latin America, musical entertainment on Friday evening at Music on the Square and stories from southern Appalachia by a storyteller or two from the Jonesborough Storytellers Guild on Saturday evening.  The Sunday SeatWeaving Roadshow will take place at the Jonesborough Visitor’s Center so we will have great visibility. 

Hotel:  There is only one hotel in Jonesborough but many in the vicinity outside of town.  The Jonesborough hotel is Country Inn and Suites, 376 East Jackson Blvd, Jonesborough, TN 37659 and is about ½-mile from the McKinney Center.  We have 25 rooms on hold until one month prior to the Gathering.  Please call 423.753.3100 to make reservations.  When making your reservation, state that you are calling for the rooms on hold for The Seatweavers Guild.  Room rates, about 10% less than the normal rate, are as follows:  Thursday night - $109, Friday night - $115, Saturday night - $120, and Sunday night - $101.  Each room has two queen-sized beds.  Breakfast is available in the hotel.

There are also several B&B’s in Jonesborough and the area in general.  I will mention two B&B’s in Jonesborough.  The Hawley House is about ¼-mile from the McKinney Center and is next to the Tennessee Hills Distillery, a great place to stop off for a quick tasting in their showroom.  The other B&B I will mention is the Eureka Inn.  It is located at the far end of Main Street and also a short walk through downtown to the McKinney Center. Check your AirBNB listings for these B&B’s as well as others. 

Antiquing is great in northeast Tennessee also.  Start looking now at your chair collection to decide which chair, or chairs, you will bring for the chair exhibit.  While the Gathering will offer virtual presentations, we look forward to seeing each of you the last weekend of July in Jonesborough.

LODGING is online, hotel and local Campgrounds 

While I cannot help with reservations, I will try to address any questions you might have.  Please call (423.534.0311) or email (lowmand637@gmail.com).

Doug Lowman