Visitors to last year's 1890s Days crowd the street in front of the Ringgold Courthouse stage.If you go
What: 1890s Days.When: 6-10 p.m. Friday, May 27; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, May 28.Where: Downtown Ringgold, Ga.Admission: Free.Website: www.1890sdays.com.
Forty years ago, two Ringgold, Ga., women visited Dahlonega, Ga.'s Gold Rush Days. Juanita Caldwell and Betty Land thought that small-town festival was a great idea and that Ringgold should have a similar signature event.
So they launched 1890s Days to provide entertainment for hometown folks as well as draw tourism dollars to town. Held annually on Memorial Day weekend, the jamboree has become the signature event the two women envisioned. Planners say more than 20,000 visitors come to Ringgold for the jamboree - more than quadrupling the small town's population of 3,500.
Organizers say another strong schedule is planned for this Friday and Saturday, May 27-28, in Ringgold's downtown square.
The street party opens Friday at 6 p.m. with the 1890s Day pageant on the stage near Ringgold's historic train depot. Nearly 20 gospel singers and bands will be performing from 6 to 10 p.m. on stages at the courthouse lawn, Tennessee Street and Cleveland Street.
Saturday's festival starts at 9 a.m. and closes at 10 p.m. with a fireworks finale. More than 100 food and crafts vendors will be set up around downtown square, and there will be dance and fiddle contests, a parade, car show and cruise-in.
Dr. Ronal Graham, event coordinator, says new this year is a zip line across Tennessee Street and two mobile ATM machines.
Although festival admission is free, Graham says there is a nominal charge for concessions and for tickets to activities in the children's area. The latter includes a climbing wall and inflatables. The zip line's ticket is $10.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.
Schedule
Friday, May 276 p.m. 1890s Days pageant, Depot Stage6-10 p.m. Gospel singing on three stages around townSaturday, May 289 a.m. Car show check-in, Ringgold First Baptist parking lot, 7611 Nashville St.9 a.m. Dance and Fiddle Contest, Courthouse Stage10 a.m. Music and Dance, Cleveland Street Stage11 a.m. Parade through downtown Ringgold12:30 p.m. Folk, country and rock music, Cleveland Street stage1 p.m. Car show judging, First Baptist Church parking lot, 7611 Nashville St.1-5 p.m. Cruise-in, First Baptist Church parking lot6 p.m. Folk, country and rock music, Cleveland Stage10 p.m. Fireworks finale
Farther South
› Summerville, Ga.: Finster Fest, the annual festival honoring the life and legacy of Summerville folk artist Howard Finster, returns to its flagship location at Paradise Garden, 200 N. Lewis St., this weekend, May 28-29. Previously, the festival was held at Dowdy Park with shuttles to Paradise Gardens for tours only. The homecoming celebration features an expanded roster of more than 50 well-known folk artists, including Bebo, Peter Loose, C.M. Laster, Grace Laster and Missionary Mary Proctor. Attendees also can enjoy live music, crafts and food with the $5 admission fee, which benefits the ongoing work of the Howard Finster Paradise Garden Foundation. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Learn more at www.paradisegardenfoundation.org.› Blue Ridge, Ga.: The 40th annual spring Arts in the Park festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 28-29, at City Park in downtown Blue Ridge. Presented by the nonprofit Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association, the festival will feature more than 175 fine arts, crafts and food booths. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. The $5 admission (ages 13 and older) grants access the entire weekend. The fall Arts in the Park festival is scheduled Oct. 8-9. For more information, visit www.blueridgearts.net.