Prater's Mill Country Fair entertainment schedule
Saturday9 a.m. Carpet Capitol Cloggers9:45 a.m. Cory Hansird10:30 a.m. Austin Redden11:15 a.m. The Dead TreesNoon. Chicamauga’s Rock & Kuntry Cloggers12:45 p.m. Ryan Scoggins1:30 p.m. New Day Gospel Singers2:15 p.m. Chicamauga’s Rock & Kuntry Cloggers3 p.m. Carpet Capitol Cloggers3:45 p.m. Dixie Style Cloggers4:30 p.m. Austin ReddenSunday9 a.m. Dixie Style Cloggers9:45 a.m. The Dead Trees10:30 a.m. Cory Hansird11:15 a.m. Carpet Capitol CloggersNoon. Choo Choo Cloggers12:45 p.m. Chicamauga’s Rock & Kuntry Cloggers1:30 p.m. New Day Gospel Singers2:15 p.m. Austin Redden3 p.m. Carpet Capitol Cloggers3:45 p.m. Ryan Scoggins4:30 p.m. Cory Hansird
New Salem Mountain Festival is marking its 43rd anniversary this weekend.When an event surpasses 40 years in longevity, you know its organizers have found the formula for success. Two such festival granddaddies - Prater's Mill Country Fair and New Salem Mountain Fair - take place Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 14-15.
A harvest of ideas and products abound on Lookout Mountain, where visitors to New Salem Mountain Fair will find original work of 100 artists and craftsmen in its beautiful wooded setting. Enjoying splashes of fall color on the mountain's trees while browsing booths along New Salem's woodland path makes an enjoyable day out.
In addition to the outdoor exhibitors, New Salem holds an indoor exhibition in its Mountain Gallery, comprised of specially selected work from each exhibitor.
Visitors will find all the expected festival concessions, but there is also a good variety of home-cooked food served by the women of New Salem United Methodist Church. Their chicken stew and pintos and beans alone are a festival draw.
All proceeds raised at this event go right back into the New Salem community to benefit the New Salem Fire and Rescue Department and New Salem Community Improvement Club.
* Prater's Mill is marking its 46th year this weekend. Combine the work of 160 artists with Appalachian-style musicians and cloggers, add in a country store, water-powered grist mill and petting zoo and it's no surprise Prater's Mill is a highly anticipated fall event.
Visitors to Prater's Mill park in one location on Highway 2 and catch a shuttle to the fairgrounds, which drops them off right at the gate. The fair spreads out on either side of the road.
This family-friendly event offers continuous stage entertainment, pony rides, display of antique automobiles and tractors, living history exhibits, booths filled with handmade arts and crafts and a petting zoo in Westbrook Barn.
The fair was begun in 1971 by volunteers to raise money to restore the 1855 mill and surrounding buildings. Fairgoers can see what they've accomplished on self-guided tours of the grist mill, Shugart Cotton Gin, the country store and barn.
FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND
OCT. 13-21
* Georgia Mountain Fall Festival: Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee, Ga., gates open 10 a.m. daily; arts and crafts area open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, $12 ages 11 and older. 706-896-4191.
OCT. 13-15
* Fall Arts in the Park: Downtown City Park, Blue Ridge, Ga., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $5 ages 13 and up, 100 fine art and craft artists, kids' zone. 706-632-2144.
* Georgia Apple Festival: Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 S. Main St., Ellijay, Ga., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 11 and older; 46th annual fair with 300 vendors. www.georgiaapplefestival.org.
* Harvest of Art: Inside Rhea County Welcome Center, junction of U.S. 27 and Main Street, Dayton, Tenn., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, free; art show and sale of new work by Dayton Arts League members, pastel portrait artist Jane Campbell on-site. 423-775-5122.
* New Salem Mountain Festival: New Salem Community Center, 12477 Georgia Highway 136, Rising Fawn, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 12 and older; 100 vendors in outdoor setting, held rain or shine. 706-398-1988.
* Oktoberfest: Chattanooga Market, First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Carter St., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, free; brats and beers sold, Bavarian bands. www.chattanooga.events/calendar.
* Prater's Mill Country Fair: Prater's Mill, 5845 Georgia Highway 2, Varnell, Ga., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $7 ages 13 and older; 46th annual fair with 200 artists and craftsmen, music, living history exhibits to benefit upkeep of historic 1855 mill. www.PratersMill.org.
* Pumpkintown: Downtown Athens, Tenn., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, free; 150 food and craft booths, powwow, music, canine and human contests. www.pumpkintownfestival.com.
* Sequoyah Quilt Show: Summerville, Ga., train depot, East Washington Street, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, free, quilt exhibit and demonstrations, arts and crafts, musicians. 706-859-0900.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.