Stevenson Depot Days will be held this week. The festival is set for the 7th through the 10th. Depot Days is a celebration of Stevenson’s railroad heritage.

The city, rich in history, was once a hub of activity. Stevenson was the junction of the Nashville-Chattanooga and the Memphis-Charleston Railroads and considered a major thoroughfare. The city is home to the Stevenson Railroad Depot, a museum that stands in place of the original depot built in 1852.  The current depot museum was built in 1872 to replace the original building when it was burned. The Depot Museum is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The museum now preserves artifacts from the railroad industry. It also holds valuable information and artifacts from the Native Americans who were common to the area, Civil War artifacts and artifacts pertaining to the lives of pioneers of the area.

Each June an old fashioned celebration in Stevenson, called Depot Days, celebrates its railroad heritage with a parade, ice cream social, pioneer breakfast, street dance, storytelling, clogging, museum tours, and other period entertainment. The festival also features lawn mower racing, the Stevenson Bug Blast (a Volkswagen car show), concerts and much more.

The event is a homecoming celebration for those who live there now, as well as those who lived or visited in the past.

Activities began early last Saturday, with an all day yard sale. On Tuesday, the Early Bird Breakfast was held at the old Choo-Choo Restaurant.  The festival continues tonight (Wednesday, June 6) at 6 p.m. with a Block Party for Christ. Hotdogs will be available to eat while you sit back and listen to some Gospel music.

The public is invited to visit the railroad flatcar downtown Thursday night and get in on a game of bingo, beginning at 6 p.m. On Friday, June 8 a Pioneer Breakfast will be held at Phillips Place. At 6 p.m. Friday, there will be an ice cream social and an auction begins at 7 p.m.

There will be something for everyone on Saturday. The festivities will last all day, downtown and at the City Park. Festivities include live entertainment, a parade, and a street dance will be held on Main Street from 8 p.m. until midnight. And on Sunday, June 10 there will be lawn mower races at the Stevenson City Park at 1 p.m.

The Stevenson Bug Blast will be held near the boat ramp at the Stevenson City Park June 7 – June 9. Admission for the VW Show will be $5, ages 12 and under will be free. The admission covers the show and race all weekend. Activities for the Bug Blast will include a Top 10 VW Show, Top 5 VW Campsites, Engine Sound-off contest, Burnout contest, Rail Buggy Demonstration, All VW Parade and Cruise, Camping all weekend, unlimited vendor space, Awards on Sunday, June 10 at 11 a.m. and a lawn mower race Sunday at 1 p.m.

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