This weekend's dozen festivals include one new event and a worthy list of established events that offer something to interest history buffs, quilters, crafters and children.
* Just when you think you've seen it all, along comes a community block party being held at the unlikely location of a funeral home. That's the case on Sunday afternoon when a new community festival launches in the John P. Franklin Funeral Home's parking lot, 1101 Dodds Ave. This free event will offer food, music and crafts for children.
* Pumpkintown in Athens, Tennessee, returns Saturday with three stages of entertainment, a powwow, more than 200 craft and food vendors, art activities for all ages, mutt strutt, doggie costume contest and downtown walking tour led by County Mayor John Gentry.
Under the supervision of Meredith Willson, Pumpkintown just continues to grow each year and is becoming one of the highlights of festival season.
* The second weekend of October signals it's time for Prater's Mill Country Fair near Dalton, Georgia. This fair has grown so large, it spills over both sides of Highway 2. A shuttle drops visitors off right at the fair's gates.
Shop more than 100 crafts booths, enjoy Appalachian-style clogging as well as musical acts and check out Prater's Mill on the Coahulla Creek on one side of the highway; cross the street to step back in time and view vintage farm equiment and Prater's store.
Funds raised at Prater's Mill Country Fair this Saturday and Sunday will fund help the maintenance of the circa-1855 mill.
Staff File Photo by C.B. Schmelter / Children enjoy pony rides during the 2018 Prater's Mill Country Fair.* Also Saturday and Sunday is the 45th New Salem Mountain Festival.
A beautiful drive up Lookout Mountain to the New Salem Commuity leads to this outdoor festival, where about 100 artists and craftsmen will be set up. There is a special indoor exhibition each year called the Mountain Gallery that includes pieces from each exhibitor in the festival as well as one featured exhibitor, who is woodturner Tim Reid this year.
In addition to the usual festival concessions, New Salem offers home-cooked food served by members of New Salem United Methodist Church, who are known for their chicken stew and country pinto beans and cornbread.
All proceeds from this festival go right back into the New Salem community Improvement Cub and the New Salem Fire and Rescue Department.
* Willkomen! Chattanooga Market expands from its regular Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m format into a two-day Oktoberfest this weekend. Saturday's hours will begin at 10 a.m. before wrapping up with the Mr. and Ms. Chattanooga Oktoberfest contest Saturday evening.
There will be brats and other German foods, a biergarten featuring more than 99 local craft brews, oompah bands and probably a chicken dance or two.
FESTIVALS THIS WEEKEND
OCT. 10-27
* Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair: Convention Center, 234 Historic Nature Trail, traffic light No. 8 on Gatlinburg Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tenn., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $7 ages 13 and older. https://craftsmenfair.com/october-fair.
OCT. 11-19
* Georgia Mountain Fall Festival: Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, 1311 Music Hall Road, Hiawassee, Ga., gates open 10 a.m. daily; arts and crafts area open 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, $12 ages 13 and older, $33 three-day pass, tickets include music shows. http://www.georgiamountainfairgrounds.com/images/Brochures/2019_Fall_Brochure.pdf.
OCT. 11-13
* Community Fall Festival: John P. Franklin Funeral Home parking lot, 1101 Dodds Ave., 2-4 p.m. Sunday, free community event with food, music and crafts for children. 423-622-9995.
* Fall Arts in the Park: Downtown City Park, 420 W. Main St., Blue Ridge, Ga., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $5 ages 13 and up, 100 fine art and craft artists, kids zone. 706-632-2144.
* Fall Tennessee Craft Fair: Centennial Park, Parthenon grounds, 2500 West End Ave., Nashville, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday (all times Central), free; work of 200 artists in juried state show sponsored by Tennessee Craft. www.tennesseecraft.org.
* Georgia Apple Festival: Ellijay Lions Club Fairgrounds, 1729 S. Main St., Ellijay, Ga., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 11 and older; 200 vendors, classic car show Saturday. https://www.georgiaapplefestival.org.
* New Salem Mountain Festival: New Salem Community Center, 12477 Georgia Highway 136, Rising Fawn, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 12 and older; 100 vendors in outdoor setting, held rain or shine. 706-398-1988.
* Oktoberfest: Chattanooga Market, First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Carter St., Chattanooga, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, free; brats and beers sold, Bavarian bands. Mr. and Ms. Chattanooga Oktoberfest chosen Saturday night. https://chattanoogamarket.com/events/?loxi_pathname=%2Fchattanooga-oktoberfest-2-7330.
* Prater's Mill Country Fair: Prater's Mill, 5845 Georgia Highway 2, Dalton, Ga., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $7 ages 13 and older; 200 artists and craftsmen, music, living-history exhibits to benefit upkeep of historic 1855 mill. http://pratersmill.org.
* Pumpkintown: Downtown Athens, Tenn., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, free; food and craft booths, powwow, music, canine and human contests. http://willsonthropic.org/pumpkintown.
* Rangerfest: Justin Wilson Cumberland Trail State Park Head of Sequatchie, 270 Glyph Parkway, Pikeville, Tenn., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. CDT Saturday, $5 adults, free for ages 17 and under. Park rangers stationed at booths to interact with guests, charcoal drawing, bats and bat boxes, river life programs, guided walk of Head of Sequatchie, talk by Dr. Jan Simek on history of area and importance of its preservation, Ivy Academy students lead educational program. 423-566-2229.
* Sequoyah Quilt Show: Historic train depot, 119 E. Washington St., Summerville, Ga., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, free, quilting exhibits and live demonstrations. 706-859-0900.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.