Tiny Rock Spring, Ga., is the center of attention this weekend, where two of the five big festivals are happening.
Balloons & Tunes lifts off today at the Northwest Georgia Industrial Park in Rock Spring for a three-day festival highlighted by a Saturday night performance by hot young country group The Band Perry.
There will be craft and food vendors, three entertainment stages and the Comcast Kids Zone spread across 20 acres on Thacker Drive.
Of course hot-air balloons are the big draw – 10 of them glowing in the evening and offering tethered rides during the day.
On Sunday, Oakwood Baptist Church is holding a worship service at the festival site at 8:30 a.m. Visitors on Family and Faith Sunday will receive free admission and parking between 7 and 10:30 a.m.
Rock Spring United Methodist Church is marking the 40th anniversary of its popular Show & Sell on Saturday. This festival is known as much for its home-cooked food (fried pies, breads, cakes, sausage and biscuits) as it is for its handmade baskets, jewelry, candles and soaps.
“The Show & Sell has lasted 40 years because it’s a community event that everyone looks forward to,” said Hope Howard, Rock Spring UMC member.
“People who have moved away come back for this and the opportunity to see old friends and family. The community really supports the vendors, and there is always plenty to do for the children,” she said.
Chattanooga Market will go global Sunday when Culture Fest is presented in First Tennessee Pavilion by the Arts & Education Council.
Visitors can learn more about Chattanooga’s cultural diversity through music, dance, art and food presented by local ethnic associations.
There will be demonstrations of origami and calligraphy, a “multicultural bake sale” and kids activities.
New this year, AEC will sell Culture Fest Cookbooks, full of recipes from around the globe submitted by local residents.
“American Idol” finalist Phil Stacey will be the featured act at Saturday’s Graysville Fall Festival at the Graysville, Tenn., ballpark.
This small-town block party kicks off with a car show at 9 a.m., parade at 2 p.m. from old school down to the ballpark with time to shop the vendors before Stacey sings at 4 p.m.
There is no fee to enter the parade. Bring a lawn chair for the musical entertainment.
Christmas is just three months from Saturday. If you’re shopping for fine-art gifts, then make a two-hour day-trip up I-24 to Nashville for the Tennessee Association of Craft Artists’ Fall Craft Fair.
Set on the beautiful grounds of Centennial Park, this juried show of more than 100 artists features only fine art pieces in a variety of mediums.
Seven Chattanooga artists have been selected to show at TACA, according to Katie Haile, TACA marketing director. They are Anderson Bailey and Shadow May, clay; Denice Bizot and Allen Hampton, sculpture; Matt Campbell, wood; Lisa Norris, books/paper; and Michael Wimmer, mixed media.
FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND
* AEC Culture Fest: First Tennessee Pavilion, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, free family festival celebrates area’s cultural diversity. 267-1218.
* Balloons & Tunes: Northwest Georgia Industrial Park, Thacker Drive, Rock Spring, Ga., 4-10 p.m. today, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, $7 adults, $4 ages 7-12, hot-air balloon rides, concert 6 p.m. Saturday with Cody McCarver opening for The Band Perry. www.balloonsandtunesfestival.com.
* Graysville Fall Festival: Graysville, Tenn., ballpark (signs will be posted from both town entrances off Highway 27), 9 a.m.-dark Saturday, free. 423-775-9242.
* Hamilton County Fair: Chester Frost Park, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, fairgoers must catch shuttle at either Northgate Mall or Middle Valley Recreation Center, free admission to fair, $6 shuttle fee adults, $4 shuttle fee children 3-12. www.hamiltontn.gov/fair.
* Rock Spring Show & Sell: Rock Spring United Methodist Church, Rock Spring, Ga., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, 40th anniversary show has crafts and food vendors, antique tractor show. 802-2447.
* TACA Fall Craft Fair: Nashville Centennial Park, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday (all times Central), free annual fine art show sponsored by Tennessee Association of Craft Artists. 615-385-1904.
Culture Fest Schedule
11 a.m. Chattanooga Tai Ji
11:30 a.m. City of Chattanooga Pipe Band
Noon. India Association
12:15 p.m. Metamorphosis Greek Dance
12:45 p.m. Dandash Dance Company
1:30 p.m. Azaaua Theatre and Dance Troupe
2:15 p.m. Metamorphosis Greek Dance
2:30 p.m. Chattanooga Latin Expressions
3 p.m. Salsa Dance with Carlos Colon
3:15 p.m. Olta
4:15 p.m. Chattanooga Gospel Orchestra, Mawre & Co.
Source: Chattanooga Market
Balloons & Tunes Entertainment
Today
4 p.m. Bounty Hunter
4 p.m. Remembering January
6 p.m. Nathan Farrow Band
8 p.m. Flynnville Train
Saturday
10:30 a.m. Robby Hopkins & Georgia Clay Band
10:30 a.m. Bel Aires
Noon. Dale Sprayberry
12:30 p.m. Dave Mathias
12:30 p.m. Katelyn Pope
1:30 p.m. Common Ground
2:30 p.m. Bartlee Norton Band
4 p.m. Georgia Scruff
4 p.m. Backwater Still
6 p.m. Cody McCarver
8 p.m. The Band Perry
Sunday
11 a.m. Kelly O’Neal
11 a.m. Fifteen 5
Noon. Robby Hopkins & Georgia Clay
12:30 p.m. They Came Running
1:30 p.m. April Wehunt
1:30 p.m. Cowboy Church Praise Team
2 p.m. Rhonda Frye
Source: Balloonsandtunesfestival.com