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Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball on Wheels!
October 15, 2020 @ 6:00 pm – 9:30 pm EDT
Join us at the Parkway Drive-In Theatre in Maryville for a COVID-adapted version of our annual spectacular salamander selebration: the Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball on Wheels! This event will feature live music from guitarist Bill Mize and a screening of beautiful nature film, Hidden Rivers. All proceeds from this fundraising event will support Discover Life in America and its biodiversity conservation work in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Tickets are $40 per car.
UPDATE – FILM CHANGE: We are excited to announce that we will now be screening Hidden Rivers at the Salamander Ball on Wheels! This gorgeous film, created by the non-profit Freshwaters Illustrated, showcases several waterways in our region and fits exceedingly well with our mission of biodiversity conservation. And it is a delightful film that we are sure you and your family will love!
Featuring Hidden Rivers
Discover America’s Richest Waters
Hidden Rivers is a 1-hour film that explores the rivers and streams of the Southern Appalachian region, North America’s most biologically rich waters. The film follows the work of conservation biologists and explorers throughout the region – revealing both the beauty and vulnerability of this aquatic life – and how many people are finding ways to protect these ecosystems.
Read more about the film here and checkout the Hidden Rivers Guidebook and T-shirt here (sales of those items support the nonprofit that made the film).
Check out the Hidden Rivers trailer:
Check out our auction of unforgettable experiences!
We have an offering of experience packages that you can bid on as part of this event. Auction opens Friday October 9th and ends Thursday, October 15th at 9:00 PM ET. All proceeds go to DLiA. Thanks to FOTS for hosting!
Text the words Salamander Ball to 243725
or click here to participate!
Musical guest, Bill Mize
“Guitars pine for the fingers of Bill Mize, who makes them weep, sing and roll
around like a cat at his feet. Thumpin’ good acoustic majesty.” – WDVX Knoxville
Bill is a past winner of the Winfield National Fingerstyle Guitar Competition, and received a GRAMMY Award for his collaboration with musician and storyteller David Holt on the recording Stellaluna. Popular acoustic guitar compilations “The Windham Hill Guitar Sampler and “Masters of the Acoustic Guitar” by Narada Records include his music. In 2009, Bill’s music appeared in the Ken Burns documentary “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” and will again be heard in the upcoming Ken Burns documentary ”Country Music.” Joining Bill on a few tunes will be Beth Bramhall on accordion adding her sublime stylings to Bill’s music. Find out more at billmize.com.
Honoring Conservation Hero Richard Powers
Richard lives in Townsend, TN and is likely the first novelist ever to win the Pulitzer Prize (2019) for a book about trees. His New York Times best selling book, The Overstory, received universal acclaim, especially among members of the environmental community. The book explores complex characters and their lifelong relationship with trees and forest ecosystems. Within the novel, his characters search for a story that will help humanity understand how dangerous it is to treat the Earth the way we do. Find out more at richardpowers.net.
Special reading of The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball by author Lisa Horstman
Our beloved annual fundraiser gets it name from this delightful tale. In The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball, written and illustrated by Lisa Horstman, we meet Sara, a young girl who is on vacation in the Great Smoky Mountains. Wandering from her tent late one summer night, Sara discovers an invitation she can’t resist, inviting her to the Salamander Ball! This book can be purchased here.
Halloween Car-stume Contest
Take a ride on the wild side at the Salamander Ball on Wheels! With Halloween right around the corner, let your creativity shine and give your car a makeover with our Halloween Car-stume contest. The top best dressed cars will receive some great prizes. Categories include spookiest, funniest and most unique.
COVID-19 safety measures
We have redesigned this annual event to make it safer for everyone. As such, we will be following CDC guidelines for COVID-19 safety. Attendees will be required to wear masks while in public spaces like the restroom area and to otherwise remain with your car group. Cars will be parked every other space in the lot to allow distancing.
Food and drink: We will not serve food or drink at this event and concessions will not be open. However, you are welcome to bring your own food and drink.
Tickets
Tickets for this event are $40 per carload of people.
Sponsored by
Thanks to the following organizations and donors for supporting the Salamander Ball on Wheels!
