A variety of settings - antebellum mansion, Victorian home, town squares and an urban farm - form backdrops for this weekend's festivals.
A 90-minute drive down I-75 will take you to Rose Lawn, the historic Victorian home in Cartersville, Ga., that is the setting for the arts festival at Rose Lawn.
Rose Lawn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places because it was built for Samuel Porter Jones, the evangelist for whom Nashville's Union Gospel Tabernacle was built. It became Ryman Auditorium.
Visitors will find a variety of handmade crafts in the tents spread across the lawn; but it's worth the drive to visit the historic home, which was restored in the late 1970s.
The show is free; a small fee is charged to tour Rose Lawn.
More than 145 years after the Battle of Chickamauga, the town of Chickamauga, Ga., will hold its annual day of remembrance on Saturday, War Between the States Day. This event is designed to educate youth on the historic battle while promoting businesses in the town today.
Craftsmen will exhibit in the Yesteryear Festival in downtown Chickamauga, where merchants and citizens are asked to come attired in period dress. The festival will include a street dance, antique cars and music.
At Chickamauga Battlefield, there will be living-history re-enactors, infantry demonstrations and book signings by authors of Civil War books.
The day concludes with the Battle of Chickamauga Barbecue Cook-off at the Gordon-Lee Mansion. The barbecue commemorates the Blue-Gray Barbecue of 1889, when 14,000 veterans of the Battle of Chickamauga came to the Gordon-Lee House. It was there that the decision to form the national park at the battleground was made, according to festival organizers.
Other small-town festivals include the Polly Crockett Festival in Cowan, Tenn., named in honor of the pioneer spirit of Davy Crockett's wife, and Boom Days in Fort Payne, Ala.
Both are in downtown squares where they offer craft and food vendors, children's activities, horse-drawn carriage rides and live music.
In Dalton, Ga., the 47th Creative Arts Guild Festival will take place. Terry Tomasello said the fine arts and crafts show will include a juried indoor exhibit, 3D student art show, children's activities for a small fee at "Children's Hill," local authors showcase and gymnastics performances.
Artist Stan Townsend, co-owner of Townsend Atelier in Chattanooga, is the festival judge.
New this year is an open-air artists market positioned in the Bernice Spigel Pavilion, where 40 artists will show their work.
In Cleveland, Tenn., the Foothills Country Fair continues in the Tri-State Exhibition Center's pavilion. In addition to a midway by Paradise Amusements, there will be a demolition derby Saturday at 7 p.m.
FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND
* Boom Days Heritage Celebration: Downtown Fort Payne, Ala., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. CDT Saturday, free. 888-805-4740, www.boomdays.org.
* Festival 2010: Creative Arts Guild, 520 W. Waugh St., Dalton, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, free, juried art exhibit, children's activities, local author showcase. 706-278-0168, www.creativeartsguild.org.
* Festival at Rose Lawn: Historic Rose Lawn mansion, 224 W. Cherokee Ave., Cartersville, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, free crafts show admission, tours of mansion $4 adults, $2 children. 770-387-5162, www.roselawnmuseum.com.
* Foothills Country Fair: Tri-State Exhibition Center, Cleveland, Tenn., 4-10 p.m. today, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon- 6 p.m. Sunday, $5, midway and daily events and exhibits. www.foothillscountryfair.org.
* Mineral Bluff Ride the Rails Festival: Historic Depot, Mineral Bluff, Ga., hourly departures 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday, arts and crafts vendors, concessions, depot tours, model railroad exhibit, $5 adults, $3 children 2-12 (suggested donation). 706-455-8903, www.tsmri.org.
* Plant Sale and Festival: Crabtree Farms, 1000 E. 30th St., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, free, craft vendors and vegetable/flower/herb plant sale. 493-9155, ext. 10, www.crabtreefarms.org.
* Polly Crockett Festival: Tennessee Avenue, Cowan, Tenn., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday (times Central), more than 100 craftsmen, Civil War re-enactments. 931-967-6788, www.franklincountychamber.com.
* War Between the States Day: Crystal Springs Bleachery, Chickamauga, Ga., Civil War re-enactors and suttlers all-day Saturday, 2 p.m. parade; 7 p.m. Battle of Chickamauga Barbecue Cook-off at Gordon-Lee Mansion. 706-375-4728, www.gordonleemansion.com.
* Wildlife & Nature Art Festival and Expo: The Art Center, 420 W. Main St., Blue Ridge, Ga., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, $5 ages 13 and up, fine art show sponsored by Blue Ridge Arts Guild. 706-632-2144.