Hop Aboard for a Week of Festivities

Depot Days rolls back into Stevenson the first week in June, and for the 45th year, it’s just the ticket to celebrate what’s new while paying homage to the city’s colorful history.

An event-filled week follows a May 31 community yard sale on Main Street, picking up steam daily at sites across town before peaking with a full slate of activities on Saturday, June 7.

At the center of it all is the historic Stevenson Depot. Built in 1872 by the Nashville & Chattanooga and Memphis & Charleston railroads, the depot sits atop the ruins of their circa-1852 building destroyed after the Civil War. In their heyday, the depot and neighboring hotel were bustling hubs of the town. Both were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. But when the railroad office closed in 1976, the depot sat unused.

After hearing it was in danger of being torn down, a group of Stevenson residents worked out a way to lease the century-old landmark, renovate it and convert it into a museum, which opened in 1982. Now, instead of train passengers, the Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum is filled with hundreds of artifacts reflecting the history of the city and its surroundings.

The depot remains the heart of downtown, and nearby merchants welcome visitors with Depot Days activities all week.

“Depot Days is a cherished annual celebration of our rich history and the spirit of the community,” says Aimee Lambert, owner of the 302 West restaurant and The Vault, a speakeasy and cigar lounge, both on Main Street.

“This will be our first year participating in Depot Days as a fully operational business, and we are so excited to open our doors for this incredible event,” Lambert says. “Guests can unwind, enjoy the vibrant energy of the festival and participate in exclusive giveaways.”

Depot Days festivities, beginning June 1, run the gamut from midweek gospel singings and bingo contests to an ice cream social and auction. Then comes Saturday’s main event. A car show at the city park typically kicks off the day at 9 a.m., but downtown Main Street comes alive at 10:30 a.m. when the Depot Days Main Street parade passes sidewalks lined with vendors and people from near and far.

“There will be music going on throughout the day and events pretty much from morning until midnight,” Stevenson Railroad Depot Museum Director Andy Burnett says.

For the full events schedule and other details, look up Stevenson Depot Days on Facebook.