Weekend festivals in Chattanooga and beyond showcase cowpeas, fried green tomatoes, pioneer ways
Sep. 9—A dozen fairs and festivals beckon this weekend, with themes that range from cowpea cultivation to fried green tomato appreciation. Here's a look around the region.
— Cherokee Fall Festival: Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, 576 Highway 360, Vonore, Tennessee. Cherokee arts and crafts demonstrations, music and dance, blacksmithing, living-history demonstrations, Civil War encampment, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $10 adults, $5 ages teens 13-18, $25 family rate. sequoyahmuseum.org
— Chickamauga anniversary: The city of Chickamauga, Georgia, celebrates 130 years Saturday with a car cruise-in, vendors and music by Eric & Eric at 1 p.m., with The Gravel Road Band at 5:30 p.m. and the movie "Scoob" at sunset. All events off Highway 27 downtown. cityofchickamauga.org
— Fall market: Collegedale Commons, 4950 Swinyar Drive. Arts, crafts, specialty products and food vendors, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Free. touchtheskyevents.com
— Fried Green Tomato Festival: Niota Depot, 201 Main St., Niota, Tennessee. Live entertainment, food booths, craft vendors, kiddie train ride, pony rides, petting zoo, antique tractor display, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Kickoff events, 7 p.m. Friday, include bingo games and screening of "Fried Green Tomatoes." cityofniota.org
— International Cowpea Festival: City Park, 136 Cass St. NE, Charleston, Tennessee. Includes cook-off by professional chefs (buy a souvenir spoon to sample and vote), photo competition, live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday. cowpeafestival.com
— Jackson County Fair: Veterans Memorial Park, 220 Cecil St., Scottsboro, Alabama. Livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, carnival, exotic petting zoo, gates open at 5:30 p.m. daily through Saturday; carnival opens at 6 p.m. (all times Central). $6 admission ages 6 and up; unlimited carnival rides $20; $5 parking. Facebook.com
— Mountaineer Folk Festival: Fall Creek Falls State Park, 2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer, Tennessee. Handmade crafts, pioneer demonstrations, old-time competitions, traditional music, 7-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. tnstateparks.com
— Northwest Georgia Regional Fair: Cherokee Capital Fairgrounds, 1060 Liberty Road SW, Calhoun, Georgia. Nightly concerts, livestock and blue-ribbon shows, school band performances, petting zoo, gates open at 5 p.m. daily through Sept. 18. $25 unlimited carnival rides. Grand parade through downtown Calhoun, 11 a.m. on opening Saturday. nwgafair.com
— Oktoberfest: Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss St., Helen, Georgia. Multiple weeks of traditional music, dancing, food and beer, starting Saturday with a noon parade. Open Thursday-Sunday most of September, daily Sept. 30-Nov. 7; doors open at 6 p.m. during the week, 1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $8 during the week, $10 Saturdays, free on Sundays. helenchamber.com
— Tennessee Valley Fair: Chilhowee Park, 3301 E. Magnolia Ave., Knoxville. Showcase of East Tennessee heritage and agriculture, plus tractor/truck pulls, demolition derby, rodeo, ax throwing, circus acts, nightly concerts and fireworks, through Sept. 19. Open 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 5-11 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, noon-midnight Sunday. $12 adults, $9 seniors 65+ and children 6-11; $10 parking; carnival and concerts cost extra. tnvalleyfair.org
— White Oak Crafts Fair: Arts Center of Cannon County, 1424 John Bragg Highway, Woodbury, Tennessee. More than 75 artisans, children's activities, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Free admission; $3 parking donation. artscenterofcc.com
— Yellow Daisy Festival: Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, Georgia. More than 300 artists and crafters, demonstrations, food, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Sunday. Admission included in venue's $20 daily parking fee. stonemountainpark.com
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.
