North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy watershed development coordinator Erin Outz, left, and NCCC executive director Larry Cook are pre-selling $10 tickets for ChickStock.
Photo by Katie WardAbout 1,200 people are expected to pedal by bicycle, travel on foot or drive their cars to Hixson’s Greenway Farm to listen to 10 bluegrass bands at ChickStock – a fundraiser for North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy – Oct. 10 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
“The success of last year’s [inaugural] ChickStock made us realize that we need this fundraiser to sustain us over the year,” said NCCC Executive Director Larry Cook. “It expanded our mission to preserve and protect natural resources by adding musical cultural resources and individual recreational resources.”
Outdoor Chattanooga will supply canoes, kayaks and mountain bikes at ChickStock so participants can explore the property.
“I’m very excited about ChickStock,” said Cook, adding it will be held rain or shine. “It will be a great show.”
ChickStock’s professional sound stage will serve as a venue for Ben Sollee, Bluetastic Fangrass led by Lou Wamp, Ogya, Bluegrass Pharaohs, Blue John, Conquistadors of the Cumberland Trail, Gerle Haggard, New Binkley Brothers, Lone Mountain Band and Slim Pickins.
“We’ve always done local bluegrass,” said Cook, referring to the years of hosting NCCC Reunions. “We wanted to expand the range a little this year. Headline performer Ben Sollee [a natural resources preservation activist] plays cello like you’ve never seen by plucking it and strumming it.”
ChickStock will host local arts and crafts vendors. Friends of the Cumberland Trail will supply rangers to showcase a cornsnake and sheep. Children will be able to build birdhouses, learn how to test water quality and play on an inflatable slide.
COMING UP• The 22nd annual Tennessee River Rescue is set for Oct. 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Two cleanup zones are located along North Chickamauga Creek. One zone is at Ivy Academy and the other zone is on Thrasher Pike. To learn more about volunteering at a local cleanup site, visit here or e-mail vista@northchick.org.• ChickStock is $10 for adults and $5 for North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy donors. Children 13 and under pay $5 and children under 5 get in free. To learn more about ChickStock located on Hixson’s Greenway Farm, at 5051 Gann Store Road, call the NCCC at 842-1163 or visit the ChickStock website.
“We need volunteers to help with trash and parking,” said Cook. “We would appreciate the help and support. If a volunteer works a three-hour shift, then they get in the event for free.”
He said all proceeds of ChickStock will benefit the North Chickamauga Creek Conservancy.
“It’s essentially operational support,” said Cook. “Our projects include extension of the Greenway Trail and restoration of water quality in the creek from the effects of coal mining and urban quality issues such as sedimentation and stormwater runoff.”
He said NCCC’s new watershed development coordinator Erin Outz will create more volunteer opportunities along the creek.
“We want people to appreciate the North Chickamauga Creek watershed,” said Cook. “ChickStock is a way to voice that.”