A dozen fairs and festivals beckon this weekend, with themes that range from cowpea cultivation to fried green tomato appreciation. Here's a look around the region.
- Cherokee Fall Festival: Sequoyah Birthplace Museum, 576 Highway 360, Vonore, Tennessee. Cherokee arts and crafts demonstrations, music and dance, blacksmithing, living-history demonstrations, Civil War encampment, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $10 adults, $5 ages teens 13-18, $25 family rate. sequoyahmuseum.org
- Chickamauga anniversary: The city of Chickamauga, Georgia, celebrates 130 years Saturday with a car cruise-in, vendors and music by Eric & Eric at 1 p.m., with The Gravel Road Band at 5:30 p.m. and the movie "Scoob" at sunset. All events off Highway 27 downtown. cityofchickamauga.org
- Fall market: Collegedale Commons, 4950 Swinyar Drive. Arts, crafts, specialty products and food vendors, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Free. touchtheskyevents.com
- Fried Green Tomato Festival: Niota Depot, 201 Main St., Niota, Tennessee. Live entertainment, food booths, craft vendors, kiddie train ride, pony rides, petting zoo, antique tractor display, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Kickoff events, 7 p.m. Friday, include bingo games and screening of "Fried Green Tomatoes." cityofniota.org
- International Cowpea Festival: City Park, 136 Cass St. NE, Charleston, Tennessee. Includes cook-off by professional chefs (buy a souvenir spoon to sample and vote), photo competition, live entertainment, arts and crafts vendors, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday. cowpeafestival.com
- Jackson County Fair: Veterans Memorial Park, 220 Cecil St., Scottsboro, Alabama. Livestock shows, agricultural exhibits, carnival, exotic petting zoo, gates open at 5:30 p.m. daily through Saturday; carnival opens at 6 p.m. (all times Central). $6 admission ages 6 and up; unlimited carnival rides $20; $5 parking. Facebook.com
- Mountaineer Folk Festival: Fall Creek Falls State Park, 2009 Village Camp Road, Spencer, Tennessee. Handmade crafts, pioneer demonstrations, old-time competitions, traditional music, 7-10 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. tnstateparks.com
- Northwest Georgia Regional Fair: Cherokee Capital Fairgrounds, 1060 Liberty Road SW, Calhoun, Georgia. Nightly concerts, livestock and blue-ribbon shows, school band performances, petting zoo, gates open at 5 p.m. daily through Sept. 18. $25 unlimited carnival rides. Grand parade through downtown Calhoun, 11 a.m. on opening Saturday. nwgafair.com
More Info
[READ MORE: See the full guide of 2021 fall fairs and festivals at timesfreepress.com.][READ MORE: Learn about other events in the Chattanooga area this weekend at timesfreepress.com.]
- Oktoberfest: Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss St., Helen, Georgia. Multiple weeks of traditional music, dancing, food and beer, starting Saturday with a noon parade. Open Thursday-Sunday most of September, daily Sept. 30-Nov. 7; doors open at 6 p.m. during the week, 1 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. $8 during the week, $10 Saturdays, free on Sundays. helenchamber.com
- Tennessee Valley Fair: Chilhowee Park, 3301 E. Magnolia Ave., Knoxville. Showcase of East Tennessee heritage and agriculture, plus tractor/truck pulls, demolition derby, rodeo, ax throwing, circus acts, nightly concerts and fireworks, through Sept. 19. Open 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 5-11 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, noon-midnight Sunday. $12 adults, $9 seniors 65+ and children 6-11; $10 parking; carnival and concerts cost extra. tnvalleyfair.org
- White Oak Crafts Fair: Arts Center of Cannon County, 1424 John Bragg Highway, Woodbury, Tennessee. More than 75 artisans, children's activities, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Free admission; $3 parking donation. artscenterofcc.com
- Yellow Daisy Festival: Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Blvd., Stone Mountain, Georgia. More than 300 artists and crafters, demonstrations, food, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Sunday. Admission included in venue's $20 daily parking fee. stonemountainpark.com
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.