Dragon Quest Weekend
Dragon Quest Weekend August 19-21, 2022
Legends of large, nimble, fire-breathing dragons are known throughout the world. For centuries, brave and adventurous humans have searched high and low for secret hiding places of the mighty dragon’s eggs. Dragon eggs are highly prized, and adventurers would trade them for priceless treasures throughout their kingdoms! With dreams of rich rewards dancing in their heads, egg hunters would scour the mountains and meadows in search of their quarry. Cheaha State Park, following this ancient tradition, is pleased to present Dragon Quest Weekend, a hide-and-seek style egg hunt played within Cheaha State Park boundaries, August 19-21, 2022. Each day, volunteers (called Dragon Egg Buddies) will hide dragon eggs around the park for lucky guests to find. Gather your friends and family to search for eggs that can be exchanged for fun treasures at the Interpretive Center. The limit is two eggs per person per day.
Guided Programming on Friday, August 19, 2022
- Nature Nook
Time: 3:30 PM Location: Mountain Store Patio
Meet the Park Naturalist! Ask questions! Learn more about Cheaha State Park! Meet a live animal!
-Campfire Talk: History of Fire
Time: 8:00 PM Location: Lower Improved Campground
Fire can be devastating but did you know that it can also be a lifesaver? There are plants and animals (like dragons) that depend on regular forest fires to survive and thrive. Join Jimmy Stiles of the Auburn School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences to learn more about the history of fire, the unusual plants and animals who depend on it for survival, and how a fire develops and moves through an ecosystem.
Guided Programming on Saturday, August 20, 2022
-Dragon Games
Time: 11:00-11:30 PM Location: Interpretive Center
Have you ever pretended to swoop and soar through the air like a dragon? Channel your inner dragon as you play your way through the dragon challenge games with Cheaha’s interpretive team!
- Dragon Queen Encounter
Time: 12:00-1:30 PM Location: Interpretive Center Porch
What is your dragon clan? The Dragon Queen knows! Pay a visit to the Dragon Queen, answer her questions, and she will reveal your dragon clan!
-Create a Dragon
Time: 2:00 PM -3:00 PM Location: Interpretive Center
Dragons are beautifully complicated animals! Join park interpretive staff to learn more about these mysterious creatures and their amazing adaptations. Channel your inner dragon wrangler and create your own specially adapted dragon paper airplane! Let your imagination run wild as you bring your very own dragon creation to life! All supplies are included in this program.
-Mountain Music
Time: 2:00 PM -5:00 PM Location: Interpretive Center
Relive the time-honored tradition of music and fellowship with a live performance by The Bluegrass Connection. Enjoy this traditional Appalachian music genre from the comfort of your own camp chair at Cheaha Lake!
- Campfire Talk: Distant Dragon Cousins
Time: 8:00 PM Location: Al Alexander Activities Buliding
Join Jimmy Stiles of the Auburn School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences to learn more about their distant, impressive dragon cousins. He will introduce you to live reptiles and amphibians who share characteristics with the elusive dragon.
Guided Programming on Sunday, August 21, 2022
- Story Time: I Invited a Dragon to Dinner and Other Poems to Make You Laugh Out Loud
Time: 11:00 AM Location: Interpretive Center
It is a lesser-known fact that dragons are rather talented poets. Learn more about poetry and even whip up a couple of poems of your own with Assistant Park Naturalist Noel Lashley as she reads silly and fun poems about dragons, written by dragons!
- Learning by the Lake Time: 12:00 PM Location: Interpretive Center
Do you have a child who is curious about the great outdoors? The interpretive team will help them connect with the natural world through art, activities, storytelling, games, and so much more. Stop by and make some new connections.
On-Going Activities (August 19, 2022-August 21, 2022)
-Dragon Quest
You have a special quest! Dragons are running wild all over Cheaha. Do you have the stealth and observation skills to spot all the hidden dragons on the mountain? They are located throughout Cheaha State Park.
-Fairy Houses Location: Enchanted Garden
Build a fairy house out of natural materials! You might just catch a glimpse of a fairy darting into your new home!
-Hike to the highest point in Alabama: Bigfoot Trail (1 mile)
Count how many hidden Bigfoots you see along the way.
-Self-guided Hikes on the Bald Rock Boardwalk (0.66 miles) and the Heritage Trail (0.44 miles)
Stop by the Mountain Store to pick up a trail map.
-Legacy Story Trails
Cheaha Legacy Story Trails offer guests a unique way to enjoy nature, cultural heritage, and environmental arts. Follow the interpretive panels on the Tim Haney Sensory Trail (LNT Bigfoot Trail), Shinrin-yoku Trail (Mountain Laurel Trail), and the Time Traveler Adventure Quest (begins at the Mountain Store). Stop by the Mountain Store to pick up a trail map.
-Play on the Imagination Tree Playground
Location: Tower Road
-Gem Mine (Various buckets of gemstones available at Mountain Store)
For more information about Dragon Weekend, email Mandy.Pearson@dcnr.alabama.gov or call 256 412-9938. All programs are free with gate admission and to overnight guests.
