East Tennessee Paracon concludes in Morristown

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East Tennessee Paracon had a little bit of something for everybody Friday and Saturday.

The second annual event was held at the Morristown VFW Post with plenty of food, items and celebrities. The guests ranged to moonshiners, social media celebrities to Bigfoot explorers.

“Moonshiners’” Master Distiller “Big Nick,” from Denver, North Carolina, outside of Charlotte, came to East Tennessee Paracon to discuss his peanut butter and banana moonshine he made in honor of Elvis’ favorite sandwich snack. That episode was aired in December on Discovery Channel.

“I was a winemaker for a little bit,” he said. “I had so much wine sitting around and I couldn’t get it bottled. I bought a little cheap still on Amazon.com and it was it from there. I love it. To me it’s more of a hobby than anything. Being on the show and having Mark, Digger and Tim just try my stuff. They could have told me it was the worst stuff they ever tasted. (It was worth it) just to get their opinion.”

The “Early Retirement Squad, Papaw and J-Ray” made popular through their “Tik Tok” videos also had a meet and greet with fans.

“We’ve been all over Knoxville, on ‘Ridiculousness’ on MTV and Channel 6 news,” J-Ray said. “We got our start and we’re having fun with it. Now we do these outlaw and paranormal shows. We’re all one big happy family.”

The start of the “Early Retirement Squad’s” videos came out of Papaw’s boredom of life after retirement, J-Ray said.

“He was bored to death and (a family member) suggested that he get on Tik Tok, thinking they would make a funny duo,” J-Ray said. “He loves doing it and it gives him something to look forward to.”

J-Ray and Papaw were selling mugs, stickers and different swag items.

Adam Davies has authored three books on “Bigfoot” paranoia.

“I’ve been on expeditions all over the world,” Davies said. “My expedition books cover everything from looking for a dinosaur in the Congo, the Yeti in the mountains of Nepal and in Mongolia, I’ve traveled the world looking for unknown species.”

Davies has been doing these self-financed expeditions for 30 years.

“I think it’s lovely around here,” he said. “I’ve been to Rogersville. We had a meal at a restaurant there and there was live music. What a town. I didn’t know it existed. It was great.”

There were more than 20 celebrity guests, plus bands, a comedy show, food trucks and vendors that came to this year’s event, according to coordinator Josh Dillon.

Even “Uncle Jessee” and “Boss Hogg” impersonators from the “Dukes of Hazzard” show were at the event. The General Lee Dodge Charger was parked in front of the venue.

Part of Paracon’s proceeds went to Kingswood Home for Children. Attendees were encouraged to bring food, toys and other items to help the home continue its mission to serve children in the foster care system.

For more information about Kingswood Home for Children, call 865-767-2121.

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