Cindy Milligan
Judy Alderman

Organizers of some of the region’s biggest festivals say unstable gas prices could fuel attendance rather than hurt it.

Two of the top local festivals are at Prater’s Mill in Varnell, Ga., and Ketner’s Mill near Whitwell, Tenn. They are set for the second and third weekends in October, respectively.

“I think people will still go, but they may go to ones closer to home,” said Judy Alderman, Prater’s Mill Foundation president. “Festivals are very economical. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a rich experience.”

Marketing for Prater’s Mill this year targets more local people, but other factors have more impact than gas costs, Ms. Alderman said.

“Really the weather is the most important indicator,” she said. “I believe people look at the weather on Friday and make their decision.”

Frank McDonald Jr., a descendant of the Ketner clan who’s been involved in the mill and Country Arts Fair for years, said people who go to festivals aren’t put off by much.

“Everybody likes our fair so much that sometimes in times of constraint, doing something enjoyable is worth a little bit of trouble,” Mr. McDonald said.

The festival’s entry fee remains the same $5 as always, he said. At the same cost as a gallon and a half of gas, he laughed, “We’re such a good bargain.”

Gas prices soared earlier this month as supplies in the Southeast were cut short by Hurricane Ike’s impact on refineries. Some stations in the Chattanooga area were pumped dry, and though supplies have rebounded, some stations are still without fuel.

Still, festivals everywhere are drawing people, according to one artist family.

Carol Kirk, wife of Cincinnati, Ohio, potter Ed Kirk, said her husband has been a regular at Ketner’s and Prater’s mills for years and expects to see the same boost he already has seen this year at festivals in Ohio, Indiana and Virginia.

“The crowds are actually more and buying more this year,” Mrs. Kirk said. “Every fair he’s done this year, he’s done better than he did last.”

Tennessee officials in June said they aimed the summer’s marketing campaign more toward local people.

Attendance at September’s Mountaineer Folk Festival at Tennessee’s Fall Creek Falls State Park matched or outpaced numbers from last year, said Stuart Carroll, a ranger at the park.

“We couldn’t see any effect from gas prices. People seemed to be looking for a good time,” Mr. Carroll said. “Our attendance was up on Sunday, and it was stable on Saturday.”

In Ellijay, Ga., interest seems to override gas price fears at Gilmer County’s upcoming Georgia Apple Festival, said Scott Sharp, festival manager.

“I think with it being kind of a local event and not too far of a drive from metro Atlanta, hopefully it won’t impact us too terribly much,” Mr. Sharp said of gas prices.

“We still have been getting calls that they are bringing large groups to the festival; got one yesterday and they are bringing about 100 people in a couple of buses,” he said, noting people are pooling resources.

That’s what some of the participants in the 145th anniversary of the Battle of Chickamauga, Ga., did to make the most of their trip, said Luella Miller from Central Texas. Her group scheduled two events in Georgia and one each in Alabama and Kentucky.

“The reason we did four events at a time like this is because of fuel prices,” Ms. Miller said.

Billie Nipper, namesake of the 41-year-old Nillie Bipper Arts and Crafts Festival scheduled for Oct. 4 and 5 in Cleveland, Tenn., said she doesn’t expect smaller attendance.

“We’re located really close to Cleveland. It’s not like when we were down at (Red Clay State) Park. It was such a long drive,” Ms. Nipper said.

“I really don’t think it’s going to be a problem. People come to our show to buy,” she said.

Southeast Tennessee Tourism Association Tourism Director Cindy Milligan said fairs and festivals draw people with who have a “stay-cation” mind-set.

“They can’t go on these longer trips,” Ms. Milligan said. “I think it’ll bode well for weekend tripping.”

In Marion County, Tenn., Fall Color Cruise coordinator Glenda Bean said she’s seen more people than ever at the cruise’s base and festival site at the Hale’s Bar Marina.

“This fuel situation this summer has helped us because people have stayed closer to home,” she said.

Staff writer Chloé Morrison contributed to this story.