Museum of Butler, TN
Join us for Homecoming 2026!
telling our story. preserving our history. inspiring generations.
Join us on Saturday, May 23, 2026, from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM for a special Homecoming Celebration at the Museum of Butler, Tennessee as we kick off the 2026 season and celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary. Enjoy live music, local history, Appalachian food, and a full day of activities honoring the people and stories of Old Butler and the Watauga Valley — the town that wouldn’t drown.
about the event
The town may be gone, but its legacy endures in the people who remember, the families who carry its history forward, and the museum that keeps its story alive.
Join us for a full day of music, history, and hometown fellowship as we celebrate the opening of the 2026 season at the Museum of Butler.
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Headlining the event is The Kody Norris Show, bringing their Spirit of America Tour to Butler as part of the nationwide celebration of America’s 250th Anniversary.
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Guests will also enjoy a special Author Talk and Book Signing with author Chuck Walsh, whose book The Isolate tells the compelling story of one of the Watauga Valley’s most renowned residents, Nick Grindstaff.
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Throughout the day, visitors can take part in a variety of activities and experiences including:
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Community Partner Vendor Fair featuring local nonprofits and community organizations
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Museum tours highlighting the story of Old Butler and the Watauga Valley
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The official launch of the new America 250 Digital Exhibit
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Young at Heart Square & Line Dance exhibitions, with opportunities for audience participation
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Checker games and visits to the historic Stout Store
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Auction, door prize raffle, and membership drive to benefit the museum
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Are you a descendant of a Founding Family of the Old Butler and Watauga Valley area? Feel free to apply for a FREE vendor space so you can visit with your family, meet new relatives and share your genealogy information. Please note that you will need to provide you own tent, table and chairs.
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Guests can also enjoy a taste of Appalachian tradition with MoonPies and RC Colas at the Stout Store, along with wonderful homemade food and authentic Appalachian fare prepared by the Butler Ruritan Club in the Bluebird Tea Room Concession Stand.
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Event Details
Saturday, May 23, 2026
11:00 AM – 4:00 PM
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Parking: $5 per car. Your fee today includes admission for you and your passengers to the Museum of Butler, TN and the concert headlined by The Kody Norris Show!
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Bring your own chair(s) for the Main Stage entertainment.
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Rain or shine
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11:00 AM . . . Museum of Butler TN, Bluebird Tea Room Concessions, and our Community Partner Vendor Fair opens. Visit the historic Stout Store, where you will find Chuck Walsh, author of "The Isolate."​
12:00 PM . . . Join us at the Main Stage area as we welcome everyone and the Johnson County Honor Guard leads us in the Pledge of Allegiance and National Anthem to officially begin our celebration. Make sure you grab a bite to eat, get your door prize raffle tickets, and get ready for some great music!​
12:15 PM . . . ACT ONE: Welcome to the Main Stage . . . The Kody Norris Show!
1:00 PM . . . INTERMISSION: We will take a short intermission for our LIVE AUCTION! Make sure you have your auction paddles to bid on select items.
1:15 PM . . . ACT TWO: Back on stage, The Kody Norris Show with their Spirit of America tour!
2:00 PM . . . Time for some fun with the Young at Heart Square & Line Dancing Club!
. . . . . . . . . . . Join Chuck Walsh in the Stout Store for his Author Talk and Book Signing
. . . . . . . . . . . Visit our Community Partner Vendor Fair and enjoy the food at the concessions!
. . . . . . . .. . . Experience our new America250 Digital Exhibit and tour the Museum of Butler, TN
3:00 PM . . . Pull out your Door Prize Raffle Tickets as we draw for the winners from the Main Stage! Claim your prize at the Museum entrance. You do not have to be present to win, but you will be responsible for picking up your prize in person.
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PARKING: Our local Boy Scout Troup will be directing parking for our event. Please follow the signs and their instruction for your, and their, safety. While parking on the Museum grounds has been designated for our guests with handicap decals or mobility issues, you may drop off your passengers at the entrance and then park in one of the adjacent lots.
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Proceeds from the event support the Museum of Butler, Tennessee, and its mission to preserve and share the story of Old Butler and the Watauga Valley. Don't forget to get your Family Season Pass for only $25 today!
we are so excited to welcome
Chuck Walsh, Author
11:00am-12:00pm . . . Meet the Author & Book Signing
2:00pm-4:00pm . . . Author Talk & Book Signing
The Stout Store
The Kody Norris Show
12:30pm-2:00pm
Main Stage Performance
Official TKNS merch will be available!
visit our community vendor fair
ACTION COALITION
AMERICAN LEGION (HONOR GUARD)
ARTIST TENT: KARIN BELL - WATERCOLOR;
BOY SCOUTS
BUTLER RURITANS - CONCESSIONS
DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
JOHNSON COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT
PREGNANCY SUPPORT CENTER OF JOHNSON COUNTY
YOUNG AT HEART SQUARE AND LINE DANCE
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ADD YOUR NONPROFIT OR COMMUNITY GROUP
(Please note, there are no commercial
vendor opportunities during this event.)
win great door prizes
INFORMATION COMING SOON!
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Would you like to sponsor our event ... or donate an auction or raffle prize?
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why this event matters
The Museum of Butler preserves the story of a community that refused to let its history disappear beneath the waters of Watauga Lake. When Old Butler was flooded in the 1940s to create the reservoir, families relocated—but the memories, traditions, and spirit of the valley endured.
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Today, the museum keeps those stories alive for future generations.
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As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, this Homecoming reminds us that the history of our nation is told through the stories of communities like Butler—places shaped by resilience, determination, and a deep connection to the land and to one another.
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By attending this event, you help support the museum’s work to preserve artifacts, share local history, and ensure that the story of Old Butler and the Watauga Valley continues to be told.
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Come Home to Butler
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Whether you remember the streets of Old Butler, grew up hearing the stories from parents and grandparents, or are discovering this remarkable history for the first time, we invite you to come be part of the celebration. Spend the day with us in the Watauga Valley as we honor the past, celebrate our shared heritage, and ensure that the story of “the town that wouldn’t drown” continues to inspire generations to come.
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If you are unable to attend but would still like to support the museum’s mission, we invite you to make a gift to help preserve and share the history of Old Butler and the Watauga Valley for future generations.
