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CUMBERLAND GAP, Tenn. — It’s almost time for the White Lightning Trail Festival!

Come to Cumberland Gap and help celebrate East Tennessee’s rich culture and history along the “White Lightning Trail.”

The White Lightning Trail Festival will be held June 29 and 30 in the Town of Cumberland Gap, and there’s lots of excitement in store for everyone. Friday’s scheduled activities will take place from 1 p.m. until 10 p.m.; Saturday’s activities will take place from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

“I’m very pleased with the number of vendors we have signed up for this year’s festival,” said Carl Nichols, Director of Tourism for Claiborne County. “If the weather holds up it will be a tremendous festival. I’m expecting numbers in the thousands.”

From the Civil War to modern day America, The White Lightning Trail Festival will tell the story of those rugged, self-reliant people that made this area the topic of movies and gave birth to one of America’s fastest growing sports – stock car racing. The White Lightning Trail, which begins in Knoxville, travels through eight other counties including Anderson, Union, Campbell, Claiborne, Grainger, Jefferson, Knox, Hamblen and Cocke. These communities share a rich heritage that will be on display in the form of demonstrations, food, period re-enactments, antique cars, craft vendors, games, bike run and a variety of live music and entertainment. There will also be a “Miss White Lightning Trail Pageant” for females, baby through 21 years old.

Also as a part of the Festival, the First Annual White Lightning Trail Bike Run will be held on June 30. It will benefit Lance Corporal Cody Evans, and will end in a Homecoming Parade through Harrogate for the Marine, who was badly injured in December of 2011 in Afghanistan. He is currently undergoing physical rehabilitation in Maryland, but should be home for the parade. All bike clubs and individual riders are welcome to participate. The ride fee is $10 per rider. It will begin in Grainger County at the Veteran’s Overlook at the top of Clinch Mountain. Registration will be at 10 a.m., and kickstands will go up at 10:45. It will finish in Cumberland Gap around 5 p.m.

“We’d like everyone who would to line the road and wave their American flags as Cody drives by,” Nichols said, adding that he should be coming through the area very close to 5 p.m. “They are going to try to stick to the Bike Run schedule as well as they can.”

For more information on the Bike Run visit the website: www.claibornecounty.com/visitor-information/annual-white-lightning-festival and click on the Bike Run. You can also call the run organizers: Deb “BigRedTrk” McKay at pgrbigredtrk@gmail.com or 865-705-0067 or Lawrence Hodge at lhodge59@yahoo.com or 865-603-1314. The Bike Run is hosted by the Patriot Guard Riders and the White Lightning Trail Festival.

If you are interested in participating in the festival or would like more information, contact Carl Nichols at 865-585-7386, visit the White Lightning Trail Festival page on Facebook or visit the website: http://www.claibornecounty.com/visitor-information/annual-white-lightning-festival/