Whether you are in the mood for music, arts and crafts or just lured by spring’s mild temperatures to enjoy Mother Nature’s beauty, there are six festivals over the long holiday weekend that meet those needs. Here’s a roundup of when and where.
1890s Days Jamboree
Over two days this weekend, Ringgold, Ga., (population 3,600) will more than quadruple in size when an expected 20,000 visitors arrive for 1890s Days Jamboree. This the 39th year the street festival has been held to celebrate small-town life with music, crafts and classic cars. Fun gets underway with a hometown pageant at 6 p.m. Friday and goes out with a blast at Saturday night’s fireworks finale.
Where: Downtown Ringgold, Ga.
When: 6-10 p.m. Friday, May 22; 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, May 23.
Admission: Free.
Events: Three stages set up – one at courthouse lawn, one on Cleveland Street, one on Tennessee Street – for gospel and bluegrass acts Friday night. A fiddle and dance contest starts at 9 a.m. Saturday at the courthouse stage. There will be 100 food and craft vendors, 11 a.m. parade Saturday, classic car show and cruise-in at First Baptist Church on Nashville Street.
For more information: www.1890sdays.com.
Little Owl Music and Arts Festival
What better place to enjoy nature’s beauty than Audubon Acres, the nature sanctuary in East Brainerd? While there, be sure to visit the pioneer life demonstration in historic Spring Frog cabin at this fundraiser for the Chattanooga Audubon Society.
Where: Audubon Acres, 900 N. Sanctuary Road.
When: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, May 23.
Admission: Free to Audubon Society members, nonmembers either $7 per person or $15 per carload.
Events: Crafters, puppetry, 11 a.m. storytelling, eight music acts throughout afternoon, 12:20 p.m. announcement of winners of student poster contest.
For more information: www.chattanoogaaudubon.org.
Red, White and You
Country singer Lee Greenwood headlines the evening concert, but the real stars of this Saturday festival in Winchester, Tenn., will be the military veterans in attendance.
Where: Winchester City Park, Red Roof Pavilion, 1561 Phillip Fulmer Parkway, Winchester, Tenn.
When: 5-9 p.m. Saturday, May 23 (all times Central).
Admission: Free (bring lawn chairs). VIP seating for veterans in the Freedom Zone (entry badges available at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave. NW; 931-967-2222).
Events: The day includes music and patriotic dance routines, a boat parade, the Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall, patriotic photo opportunities and a patriotic light show. The venue opens at 5 p.m. Skydivers will drop in with an American flag and the Franklin County High School Concert Band will sing the national anthem at 6 p.m.
For more information: 931-691-0629, 931-967-2222.
Roots Fest
Camp out at this three-day music festival that features 22 bands from the tri-state area. Event organizer Ada Barnes says camping is encouraged, so your tent space is included in the price of a ticket.
“Most of our performers camp all weekend, or as much as they can, so concertgoers get to know the musicians. Roots Fest is really something that was built on finding time for our music community to get together and enjoy hearing each other play,” she says.
Barnes says campers will be allowed in the gates Friday to set up. Anyone glamping in an RV is asked to give advance notice. “If we know we are going to have a certain number of RVs, we try to make sure we have enough space set aside to accommodate them,” says Barnes.
Where: Cherokee Farms, 2035 Old Mineral Springs Road, LaFayette, Ga.
When: Gates open noon Friday, May 22; festival closes 9 p.m. Sunday, May 24.
Admission: Three-day ticket $45, two-day ticket $35, one-day ticket $20, children under 12 free.
Events: In addition to 22 bands, there are several food and craft vendors, kids tent and water slide, tai chi workshop and demonstrations, free showers for campers’ use.
For more information: www.roots-fest.com.
Spring Arts in the Park
Just a 90-minute drive from Chattanooga into the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains will lead to the 39th annual fine arts show that benefits the Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association. More than 170 craftsmen and food vendors will be participating in this outdoor festival.
Where: Downtown City Park, Blue Ridge, Ga.
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, May 23-24.
Admission: $5 ages 12 and up, wristband good both days; under age 12 free.
Events: The show will include work by painters, photographers, potters, sculptors, glassworkers, leather crafters, textile artists and more; there will be face painting and balloon artists for kids.
For more information: 706-632-2144.
Thunder on the Rock
As many as 10,000 bikers and music lovers will fill campsites and motels from Kimball to Monteagle, Tenn., this weekend when the annual motorcycle rally, Thunder on the Rock, revs up on Monteagle Mountain at a 300-acre property on the Cumberland Plateau.
The biker rally/music festival has a rock-solid musical lineup this weekend with nightly headliners Craig Morgan on Friday, Uncle Kracker on Saturday and Blackberry Smoke on Sunday. Organizer Amanda Kilgore says ticket prices include camping fees.
Where: 518 Brawley Road, Monteagle, Tenn.
When: Gates open 8 a.m. Friday, May 22; festival ends 1 p.m. Monday, May 25; music starts 2 p.m. each day (all times are Central).
Admission: Online in advance $75, at gate $85; VIP ticket with water and electricity $300.
Events: In addition to each night’s headliner, there are four to five other musical acts throughout the afternoon and early evening. About 50 food and craft vendors will be on-site. There will be bike games, cornhole games, midget wrestling, a motorcycle parade and the event’s first mud bog. Kilgore says The Cherry Bombs dance team will be bar ending for the weekend.
For more information: www.thunderontherock.net.