The Atlanta Rhythm Section, the Southern rock band that gained fame in the 1970s with such hits as "So Into You" and "Imaginary Lover," will close out the Boom Days Heritage Celebration at City Park in Fort Payne, Ala., on Saturday, Sept. 17.Put some junk in the trunk
If you’re a fan of HGTV’s “Junk Gypsies” or History Channel’s “American Pickers,” detour off Interstate 75 into Ringgold, Ga., to go junking at the High Cotton Market. It’s an outdoor rummage sale Friday and Saturday, Sept. 16-17, with 20 dealers selling antiques, recycled and upcycled items and all types of stuff. Market hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. both days. High Cotton Market is hosted by Ringgold Feed & Seed Antiques, 403 High St., but dealers will be set up all around downtown for the citywide Ringgold Junk Market. For more information, call 706-935-7333.
The CoteriesFESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND
* Arts Festival at Rose Lawn: Rose Lawn Mansion, 234 W. Cherokee, Cartersville, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, free admission to festival, small fee to tour historic mansion. www.roselawnmuseum.com.
* Blue & Gray Barbecue and Festival: Gordon-Lee Mansion, 217 Cove Road, Chickamauga, Ga., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, free admission, additional cost for barbecue, $5 fee to tour mansion benefits Friends of the Mansion; heritage festival with crafts and food vendors. 423-488-0861.
* Boom Days Heritage Celebration: City Park, Fort Payne, Ala., 7 a.m.-8 p.m CDT Saturday, free day of community activities followed by 8 p.m. concert by Atlanta Rhythm Section. www.boomdays.com.
* Celebrate Autumn: North Georgia Technical College, Highway 515, Blairsville, Ga., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, free; juried arts and craft show with 40 exhibitors sponsored by Mountain Regional Arts and Crafts Guild. www.artguildstore.com.
* Fall Festival: St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1291 E. Madison Ave., Athens, Tenn., 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, free; ethnic foods, silent and live auctions, entertainment, children's games. www.stmaryathenstn.org.
* Fall Heritage Festival: Railroad Park and downtown Cowan, Tenn., 5-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday (all times Central), free; arts and crafts, cruise-in, Civil War presentations, cornbread contest. www.fallheritagefestival.info.
* Festival!: Creative Arts Guild, 520 W. Waugh St., Dalton, Ga., 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, free; indoor and outdoor fine art exhibits, children's activities. 706-217-6677.
* Jamboree: Center Post Community Center, 8125 Highway 337, Center Post community south of LaFayette, Ga., 1 p.m. Saturday, free admission, family fun with carnival games, barbecue, inflatables and music. 706-638-1935.
* Sandy Springs Festival: Heritage Green, 6075 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs, Ga., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 18 and older, $2 ages 6-17; 600 arts, crafts and food vendors. https://heritagesandysprings.org.
SEPT. 17-OCT. 31
* Mayfield Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch: 257 Tennessee Highway 307, Athens, Tenn., 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, 1-7 p.m. Sunday (other days for school groups), corn maze, pumpkin patch, kiddie ziplines, hay rides, pig races, slides, $11 adults, $8 kids 2-10. 423-746-9859, mayfieldmaze.com.
SEPT. 17-NOV. 6
* Sweet Corn Festival: Autumn Acres, 1096 Baier Road, Exit 311 off I-40, Crossville, Tenn., opening-day celebration Saturday includes 5K pumpkin run and antique car show; attraction open 2-10 p.m.Fridays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays, 1-6 p.m. Sundays (all times Central), $10 ages 3 and up, $8 ages 65 and up, activity tickets $1 each or six for $5; corn mazes, hayrides, corn and apple cannons, kids corral, barnyard cafe. autumnacres.net.
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A road trip south on I-75 will take you to half of this weekend's festival fun. There are six events located between Chickamauga and Sandy Springs in North Georgia - two of them on the picturesque grounds of historic homes.
* Take the Battlefield Parkway exit off I-75 South, through Chickamauga Battlefield into Chickamauga, Ga., then follow the signs to the annual Blue & Gray Barbecue Contest and Festival on Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Gordon-Lee Mansion. This Civil War heritage event brings Confederate soldiers back to the antebellum mansion as reenactors, and they will be firing cannons and giving living-history demonstrations.
Gary Gossett says eight barbecue teams will compete for bragging rights this weekend, and seven of them will sell meat to festivalgoers; plate prices vary by the vendor, but all will be under $10. A dozen craft vendors will be positioned along the stone walkway that leads to the mansion doors. The 1847 home will be open for tours, with the $5 admission benefiting Friends of the Gordon Lee Mansion. Festival admission and parking are free.
* Take Rocky Face Exit 336 or the Walnut Avenue exit off I-75 into Dalton, Ga., for the 53rd annual Festival of Arts and Crafts at Creative Arts Guild on West Waugh Street this Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 17-18.
Leanne Martin, operations director, says 125 exhibitors of fine art and fine craft have been accepted to this excellent juried show. While the majority are regional artists, there are exhibitors coming from as far north as Pennsylvania and south to Florida.
Their work will be spread among an indoor patron exhibit, outdoor artist market and area artist exhibit. Additionally, the Robert Webb Sculpture Garden will be open for self-guided tours, and there will be a children's area with free hands-on art activities, music, children's performances and mural painting.
Martin says free shuttles are being offered to make access to the festival site even easier. On Saturday, catch the shuttle at First Baptist Church, 311 N. Thornton Ave. Sunday's shuttle locations are Dalton Regional Library, 310 Cappes St., and Dalton-Whitfield Senior Center, 302 Cappes St.
Want first dibs on the art? Make plans to go to the preview party Friday night, Sept. 16, at 7 o'clock. The $55 ticket includes specialties from some of Dalton's best restaurants and jazz music by Clint Schmitt Quartet.
* Rounding out the North Georgia events is a community barbecue in LaFayette, Ga.; a fine arts show in Blairsville, Ga.; and two arts and crafts shows in Atlanta suburbs. The Arts Festival at Rose Lawn in Cartersville is a nice day trip because the exhibitors are spread across the lawn of a historic Victorian mansion, which will be open for tours, but you'll find a broader selection of crafts in Sandy Springs.
* If you're traveling I-24 to I-59 out of Chattanooga on Saturday, you might want to stop in Fort Payne, Ala., for Boom Days. Visitors come from around the South for this community-oriented festival due to its reputation for booking well-known musical acts to close out the festival. This year Kentucky Headhunters are opening at 6 p.m. for Atlanta Rhythm Section's 8 o'clock show.
More than 75 food and crafts vendors will be set up around City Park. Several Fort Payne civic groups are holding fundraisers in conjunction with the festival such as Lions Club BBQ Bash, Landmarks of DeKalb half-price book sale and a Kiwanis Club pancake breakfast.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.