Monteagle's Summerfest: Crafts, hikes and a Swiss colony anniversary

Three Monteagle events combined for the first time into one weekend

Mountain Market Arts & Crafts is held in Hannah Pickett Park on Monteagle Mountain.
Mountain Market Arts & Crafts is held in Hannah Pickett Park on Monteagle Mountain.

If you go

› What: 60th Mountain Market for Arts and Crafts› Where: Hannah Pickett Park, 16 Dixie Lee Ave. Monteagle, Tennessee› When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT, Saturday July 27; 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT, Sunday, July 28› Admission: Free› For more information: 931-924-5353

The city of Monteagle, Tennessee, has held Summerfest in previous years as a summer-long celebration central to the town. Summerfest highlighted a variety of aspects that made the summer months special on the South Cumberland Plateau from drinking sweet tea on a front porch to fish fries and concerts to outdoor adventures.

But this month, two annual events are marking milestone anniversaries: the 60th year of the Mountain Market for Arts & Crafts and the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Swiss colony in Gruetli. So the decision was made to combine the three events under the umbrella of one big Summerfest on the weekend of July 26-28, promoted by the South Cumberland Chamber of Commerce.

"All of the Summerfest events are truly community-driven. It's our neighbors and friends that are putting these things together. We talk about plans and swap ideas at the grocery store, while we're grabbing mail at the post office and when we're between rounds at trivia night," says Stephanie Kelley, a member of the Summerfest committee with Rhonda Atkins and Sue Herrick.

"This year, one of our friends from the Morton Memorial fish fry floated the idea of a mountain-wide festival and asked if the chamber would be willing to take that task on.

"We figured, 'Why not combine efforts and make a celebration out of it? We're all going to go out and support everyone anyway.' This way, it's just more organized, " she explains.

So more than two dozen Summerfest events have been scheduled between Friday and Sunday that range from a community yard sale to benefit the library, to a movie night, fish fry, wine-tasting, waterfall hike and cave exploration to live music in the evenings at mountain restaurants. And, of course, the two anniversary events.

If you go

› What: Swiss Heritage Festival› Where: Stocker-Stampfli Farm, 328 Swiss Colony Cemetery Road, Gruetli-Laager› When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT, Saturday, July 27› Admission: $5› For more information: 931-235-3029

The Mountain Market will be Saturday and Sunday in Hannah Pickett Park on Monteagle. This arts and crafts show is one of the longest-running craft festivals in the Southeast - and this anniversary market is believed to be the biggest market yet.

Kelley says there are 114 vendors booked (only seven of them selling food), and all work must be homemade and original. She says visitors will also find a lot of repurposed/upcycled art pieces.

Kelley says more than 150 artists and craftsman applied for this show. In addition to the wares for sale, there will be demonstrations by a blacksmith, chainsaw carver, woodturner and a wool-spinner.

"There will be a children's area with games, crafts and scavenger hunt," says Kelley. The hunt involves a list of items children must use their skills of observation to find in the market, such as an item with a picture of a deer or something that is red. Those who complete their hunt and turn it in will receive a small prize.

New this year will be workshops in painting, felting and candle-making.

"The workshops have been added because there was a demand from people to try their own hand in these skills," says Kelley. "There is a fee of $25 for candle-making and painting, $20 for felting. People will need to register in advance by email at scccevents.931@gmail.com."

Kelley says the Mountain Market is located about two minutes from I-24. Admission to the show in the park is free, as is parking in the grassy area between City Hall and DuBose Conference Center.

Directions: From Chattanooga, follow I-24 West, taking exit 135. Bear right off the exit and follow Main Street until you see Hannah Pickett Park on the right.

SWISS HERITAGE FESTIVAL

The Grundy County Swiss Historical Society will hold its annual Swiss Celebration at the Stocker-Stampfli Farm Museum in Gruetli-Laager, Tennessee, on Saturday, July 27.

"We are celebrating the 150th anniversary of the establishment of the Swiss colony of Gruetli," says organizer Jackie Lawley.

The celebration will include music by the Mountain Polka Band of North Carolina, food vendors with brats and sauerkraut, burgers, barbecue, Swiss cookies and other bakery goods.

There will be wagon rides, a bounce house, wine-and-cheese tasting and live music at noon.

History buffs will enjoy tours of the farmhouse and the old documents on display. There will also be a soap-making demonstration at 11 a.m. CDT by Rebecca Suter, and carding and weaving of alpaca wool by Amy Rae.

For more information: 931-235-3029.

Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.

SUMMERFEST SCHEDULE

All times given are CentralFriday, July 268 a.m.-5 p.m. Monteagle Community Yard Sale, on Main Street adjacent to the Mountain Market, benefits May Justus Library10 a.m. Sycamore Falls Nature Hike, free, 3 miles, South Cumberland State Park, 131 Fiery Gizzard Road, Tracy City10:45 a.m. “Places That Mark Twain Knew,” lecture by Allison Ensor, free, Monteagle Sunday School Assembly, 1 Assembly Ave., Monteagle1:30-3:30 p.m. Greeter Falls Nature and Waterfall Hike, free, 2 miles, South Cumberland State Park, 550 Greeter Falls Road, Altamont7 p.m. Live music by The Lovers, no cover, The Smoke House, 844 W. Main St., Monteagle7-11 p.m. Live music by Borderline Band, no cover, Hank’s Corner Grille, 24 Main St., Tracy City8 p.m. Movie night, “The Croods,” free, beside City Hall in Tracy City, 50 Main St.Saturday, July 278 a.m.-5 p.m. Monteagle Community Yard Sale, Main Street adjacent to the Mountain Market, benefits May Justus Library9 a.m.-5 p.m. Mountain Market for Arts & Crafts, free, Hannah Pickett Park, 16 Dixie Lee Ave., Monteagle10-11 a.m. Mountain Market, painting workshop, $2510-11 a.m. Reading with a Ranger while hiking Story Book Trail, free, South Cumberland State Park Visitor’s Center, 11745 Highway 42, Monteagle10 a.m.-4 p.m. Buggytop Cave Expedition, $10, strenuous 5 miles, South Cumberland State Park, meet at 6398 Sherwood Road, Sewanee. Wear closed-toe shoes or boots, headlamps and gloves; bring water and food carried in small backpack10 a.m.-4 p.m. Swiss Heritage Festival, Stocker-Stampfli Farm, Gruetli-LaagerNoon. Candle-making workshop at Mountain Market, $252 p.m. Improvised fishing equipment class, $6 adults, $3 ages 12 and younger, South Cumberland State Park, meet at Grundy Lakes beach parking area, fee includes materials4-7 p.m. Fish fry, $12 adults, $6 children, Morton Memorial United Methodist Church, 322 W. Main St., Monteagle4-7 p.m. Wine tasting, Tallulah’s Wine Lounge in Monteagle Inn and Retreat Center, 204 W. Main St., Monteagle4-7 p.m. Live music by Dave Pahanish, no cover, The Smoke House, 844 W. Main St., MonteagleSunday, July 288 a.m.-4 p.m. Monteagle Community Yard Sale, Main Street adjacent to the Mountain Market, benefits May Justus Library10 a.m. Painting workshop at Mountain Market, $2510 a.m.-4 p.m. Mountain Market for Arts & Crafts, free, Hannah Pickett Park, 16 Dixie Lee Ave., MonteagleNoon. Candle-making workshop, Mountain Market, $251:30 p.m. Felting workshop, Mountain Market $20.

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