Get your Fall Festival Guide Sunday
Pick up a copy of the Sunday, Sept. 3, edition of the Times Free Press for our annual Fall Festival Guide, a comprehensive list of more than 100 fairs and festivals within a two-hour drive of Chattanooga. Look for it in the Life section.
Labor Day signals summer is winding down and it's time to get serious about school routines, fall home improvement and the prospects of a winning season for the home football team.
This long holiday weekend is an opportunity for one last hurrah, a short trip for family fun and R&R. Here are some ideas for day-trips to area festivals this weekend.
Butterfly Festival
» Where: Heritage High School, 3960 Poplar Springs Road, Ringgold, Ga.
» When: 2-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2
» Admission: $10 ages 3 and older, $5 children under 3, $50 maximum per family
This new family event is a fundraiser being launched by friends, former classmates and family of Katie Beth Carter, to commemorate the loss of her life in a car accident on her way back to college Labor Day weekend 2016. Committee member Amy Carter says proceeds will be put into the Katie Beth Carter Memorial Scholarship Fund, which awards annual scholarships to students at Heritage High School.
"Katie Beth loved kids and family was important to her. We thought this would be a sweet way to honor her," says Carter.
Carter says there will be music, dancers, inflatables, carnival games, a magician, food vendors and a butterfly/balloon release. Plus, they've booked nearly 20 arts and crafts vendors on this first year.
Cowboy Western Heritage Festival
» Where: Historic Summerville Depot, East Washington Street, Summerville, Ga.
» When: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2
» Admission: Free
Pull out your Stetsons and mosey down to Summerville, where this festival offers cowboy clowns, blacksmithing demonstrations, pony and wagon rides for pint-size cowpokes, Western vendors and cowboy cooking. Be sure to get there in time for the wagon train and cowboy parade at 11:30 a.m.
And just like in any good Western movie, a steam train will chug into the depot, bell clanging. The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum's Summerville Steam Special arrives between 12:30 and 1 p.m., and will have a layover in town before returning to Chattanooga.
"This is going to be a great event, full of entertainment that is free for the public," says Susan Locklear, manager of the sponsoring Summerville Main Street Association.
Cumberland County Fair
» Where: 34 Music Road, Crossville, Tenn.
» When: gates open 5 p.m. tonight and Friday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1; 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2 (all times Central).
» Admission: $5
This fair, which began Aug. 25, winds downs with a truck pull tonight at 7 p.m. and horse/mule show Friday at 7 p.m. Confederate Railroad will close the fair with a concert on Saturday at 8 p.m.
No county fair is complete without a midway, and Belle City Amusements is back with games and rides for thrill seekers.
Eastdale Elementary Reunion and Community Festival
» Where: Eastdale Recreation Center, 1314 Moss Drive
» When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2
» Admission: Free
It's being billed by organizers as "Eastdale's biggest backyard party."
All former students and educators who passed through the halls of the now-closed Eastdale Elementary School are invited to bring their families to this Eastdale Elementary Reunion and Community Festival to reminisce and meet other alumni. Bring a picnic - even your portable grill - lawn chairs, scrapbooks, a tent or umbrella for shade and settle in for a big family-reunion-style party.
Organizers say there will be plenty of music from hip-hop of the millennials to the oldies their baby-boomer parents danced to in their youth.
Knights of Columbus Labor Day Picnic and Family Festival
» Where: Camp Columbus, 8601 Camp Columbus Road, Hixson
» When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4
» Admission: Free
Monday's picnic marks the 75th year this Labor Day fundraiser has been held by the Father Patrick Ryan Council 610 of Knights of Columbus. A day of carnival-style games (white elephant sale, cake booth) has been planned along with a charity bingo game at 2:30 p.m. There will be music by The Almond Butter Band along with other local acts.
The barbecue meal will consist of a choice of beef, pork or chicken with potato salad, beans, slaw and bread for $9 adults, $5 children. Or purchase beef or pork in bulk for $9 a pound or ribs for $17 a slab.
Labor Day at the Post
» Where: Barnhardt Circle polo field, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga.
» When: 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 4
» Admission: Free, small charge for kids' activities
Hometown-son entertainer James Rogers headlines an afternoon of music, food, arts and crafts vendors and children's activities at this Labor Day party.
The Labor Day music schedule includes gospel singer Aimee Garner, 11 a.m.; rock band Midnight Promise, noon; country singer-songwriter Austin Zackary, 1 p.m.; and Rogers from 2 to 4 p.m.
"Make sure the kids get a chance to play in the Children's Zone," suggests Chris McKeever, director of the 6th Cavalry Museum located on Barnhardt Circle. "For a small fee, kids can enjoy bounce houses, ride the My Fun Train and take pony rides. A mobile petting zoo will bring an alpaca, miniature horse, goats, sheep and a mini zebu cow and pig for all to enjoy."
Muscadine Balloon FIESTA
» Where: Tsali Notch Vineyard, 140 Harrison Road, Madisonville, Tenn.
» When: 2-10 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, Sept. 2-3
» Admission: $10 adults, $5 children 12 and younger, general admission; $125 VIP package; $10 tickets for wine tasting
What could be a more breathtaking sight than a balloon glow at dusk that's set to music - two dozen, vividly colored, hot-air balloons bobbing and swaying to the beat?
That's just part of the allure of this balloon festival at the Madisonville vineyard, which includes balloon rides (an additional cost), wine garden, music, food, games, 20 artist booths, Kids Zone and more to raise funds for Court Appointed Special Advocates of Monroe County.
Weather permitting, tethered rides will be offered for $15 per person.
The VIP package includes a gourmet dinner, wine tasting with commemorative glass, opportunity to meet the balloon pilots and reserved parking spot. For tickets: www.muscadineballoonfiesta.com.
Traveling Bazaar's Fall Barn Sale
» Where: Old McDonald's Farm, 16705 Coulterville Road, Sale Creek
» When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 2
» Admission: Free
Make a day of this visit to the Sale Creek farm - shop vendors selling handmade items, boutique clothing, shabby chic and vintage items, then have lunch in the Calf-A.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.