The cure for cabin fever after multiple days of rain is a day trip - anywhere outdoors. Festivals this weekend pay homage to Southern icons cornbread, ramps and a cool glass of sweet tea, as well as highlight awareness of environmental efforts in the North Chickamauga Creek Gorge.
NATIONAL CORNBREAD FESTIVAL
» Where: Cedar Avenue from First to Fourth streets, South Pittsburg, Tenn.
» When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. CDT Saturday, April 28; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT Sunday, April 29
» Admission: $7; additional $5 for Cornbread Alley
» For more information: nationalcornbread.com
Marking its 22nd year, the National Cornbread Festival is a weekend filled with 70 crafters, kids games, carnival rides, 5K run, tours of historic neighborhoods, tours of Lodge Foundry, live music by 50 acts on the street and in the jamming tent as well as a Nashville songwriters concert in South Pittsburg's Princess Theatre at 1 p.m. Saturday.
But the real draw is the food. Every conceivable concession is sold along Cedar Avenue. Just Cornbread Alley is reason enough to make the 30-mile drive west of Chattanooga to South Pittsburg. A $5 ticket gets you a plate of nine cornbread dishes, a sample from each of the organizations whose members have cooked that food. And proceeds go back to those nonprofits.
Courageous festivalgoers can compete in cornbread-eating contests, buttermilk-chugging races or a frozen T-shirt contest.
Most important, the festival is home to the prestigious National Cornbread Festival Cook-off. Sponsored by Lodge Cast Iron, Dollywood and Cracker Barrel, the contest features 10 finalists from across the United States.
New this year is a cast-iron collectors tent, hosted by Lodge Manufacturing. You'll find it beside the Lodge Cast Iron factory store outside the festival gates between 9 a.m. and noon on Sunday.
Bring one favorite piece of cast-iron cookware to show fellow collectors (collectors are responsible for their own cast iron.) Learn about cast-iron history from Lodge historians, participate in trivia contests and compete to win some special, limited-edition items from Lodge. Noncollectors are also welcome.
RAMP TRAMP
» Where: Polk County 4-H Camp McCroy, off Highway 30 in Reliance, Tenn.
» When: 7-9 p.m. Friday, April 27; 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 28
» Admission: Free
» For more information: ramptrampfestival.com
In 1958, a group of 4-H volunteers, 4-H members, young farmers and homemakers from Polk and Bradley counties "tramped" up Big Frog Mountain to harvest and feast on one of nature's first mountain herbs: ramps.
Sixty years later, the tradition of food and fellowship still continues in Polk County, although the trek up Big Frog is no longer part of the event.
The Polk County Ramp Tramp Festival will celebrate 60 years of ramps, crafts and bluegrass music during the festival on Friday and Saturday, April 27-28.
The fun starts Friday night at 7 p.m. with Bluegrass & Beans. Guests can enjoy the music of Double Cross and Connection 27 while feasting on white beans, fried potatoes, cornbread and ramps.
The music continues Saturday with bluegrass by The Misfits at 10 a.m., John Brown & Company at 11 a.m. and No Place to Hide at 1 p.m. Special guests performing in the Polk County Chamber of Commerce's tent will be Chris Rodrigues & Abby the Spoon Lady.
Door prizes will be given away throughout the day. The traditional meal of ramps in eggs, streaked meat, white beans, cornbread and potatoes will be served. Crafters will be set up around the camp.
SWEET TEA AND SUNSHINE FESTIVAL
» Where: Greenway Park and Pavilion, 775 Raider Drive, Cleveland, Tenn.
» When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 28; noon-5 p.m. Sunday, April 29
» Admission: Free
» For more information: 423-650-1388
Bring your lawn chair, grab a plate of food and a glass of sweet tea, then sit back for live entertainment.
The second Sweet Tea and Sunshine Festival, sponsored by Touch the Sky Events and Promotions, is family fun with food trucks, music by local bands, petting zoo and pageants for all ages from infants to high-schoolers. To register for a pageant, call 423-479-6116.
New this year: a sweet tea competition. Visitors can pay a tasting fee to sample the entries and vote for their favorite.
CUMBERLAND TRAIL SPRING FESTIVAL
» Where: Ivy Academy, 8520 Dayton Pike, Soddy-Daisy
» When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 28
» Admission: $5 individual, $10 per family
» For more information: 423-305-7494
Cumberland Trail Spring Festival is partnering with Ivy Academy and its 5K trail run, Running with Sasquatch, for this event to raise environmental awareness.
The trail run begins at the school at 9 a.m. and follows the south side of North Chickamauga Creek Gorge. Runners are encouraged to stay after and enjoy the festival.
The festival will include interpretive programs, invasive plant basket-weaving, Native American demonstrations, nature booths, guided hikes, a scavenger hunt, citizen-science booth manned by Ivy Academy students, live music and food and craft vendors.