Friends of the Park holding "National Treasures" fundraiser on Lookout Mountain

The Friends of the Park will hold its annual "National Treasures" fundraiser Thursday at Point Park on Lookout Mountain.

"Point Park is such a beautiful site and is the perfect venue for celebrating our local National Park and what it means to our community," said organization president Becky Browder.

This year's theme is "Blues, Views and Barbecue," Browder said.

"We are excited to have native Chattanoogan, Dr. Clark White, aka 'Deacon,' performing with his Atlanta-based band, Deaconbluz and the Holy Smoke Band," she said. "Using the New York Peace Monument in the center of the park, the band will tell the story of the blues through the years. They were a big hit at the Bessie Smith Strut a few years ago, and we are excited that they have agreed to play for the party at Point Park."

Browder said a cannon will be fired several times during the evening, and there will be "trivia" stops along the carriage path for guests to enjoy. The Ochs Museum will be open, and guests may take pictures in front of Umbrella Rock.

Casual summer attire is the dress code for the evening, she said.

Guests will be served beverages and barbecue.

The fundraiser benefits the nonprofit Friends of the Park, which highlights the significance and needs of Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park, the first national park established to memorialize America's history, Browder said.

"All proceeds from the event go to benefit our National Park and its units at Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Moccasin Bend, Orchard Knob and Signal Point," she said.

Tickets are $75 each or $130 per couple and are available online at www.chickchatt.org or by check, made payable and mailed to Friends of the Park, P.O. Box 748, Chattanooga, TN 37401. Reservations include food, beverages, activities and a tax deductible donation to the Friends. Guests will receive written documentation for their donations.

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park encompasses 9,100 acres, spanning the boundaries of Tennessee and Georgia, Browder said. Our national park preserves forever the American history and natural beauty of its spaces, commemorating vivid stories of conflict, change, reconciliation and reunion.

For information about National Treasures and the work of the Friends, visit www.chickchatt.org or call the Friends at 648-5623.

Contact Karen Nazor Hill at khill@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6396. Follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/karennazorhill. Subscribe to her posts on Facebook at www.facebook.com/karennazorhill.

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