Tennessee News

Tennessee
NEWS

CHATTANOOGA, TN, OCTOBER FESTIVAL FEATURES CRAFTS AND MUSIC

Two great festivals combine to showcase the region’s finest craftsmen and musicians in downtown Chattanooga, TN again this year on October 4-5, rain or shine.

The and Celebration of Fine Crafts brings more than 100 artists, most from the Southeast, to Ross’s Landing for a pre-holiday market of unique hand-crafted items. At the same time, the weekend-long Southern Folk Festival is a part of the festivities, as it spotlights multi-ethnic musical performances on two stages in downtown Chattanooga, near the Tennessee Aquarium.

Fine craft artists will offer creations in clay, glass, wood, fiber and metals, art jewelry and fine wearables, sculpture, photography and original prints. Produced by the Tennessee Association of Craft Artisans (TACA), the show’s fine crafts include a range of culturally diverse original crafts, many of the collectibles priced for gift-giving. Artists will be on hand to demonstrate raku-firing, Gullah sweet-grass basket weaving, spinning, wood carving, willow furniture making and more.

Folk Festival performances feature blues, bluegrass, old-time and gospel. There will also be ethnic music and dance from Ireland, South America, Mexico and Native Americans.

New for young people this year are hands-on activities organized by the Creative Discovery Museum near the festival site. TACA’s craft artists and the Folk Festival performers will visit schools and community centers in the Chattanooga area prior to the festival, providing educational programs for school children and seniors.

Delectable food will include Greek, Thai and Ukrainian, plus favorites like strudel, barbecued ribs, pork, chicken and turkey legs, red beans and rice, Cajun chicken, homemade fudge and peanut brittle, funnel cakes, apple dumplings and frozen lemonade.

Information about Celebration of Fine Crafts: Tennessee Association of Craft Artisans, (615) 665-0502; about Southern Folk Festival: Douglas Day, (540) 943-9901.

FALL COLOR CRUISE AND FOLK FESTIVAL LIGHTS UP CHATTANOOGA, TN

The Fall Color Cruise and Folk Festival, October 18-19 and October 26-27, is one of the top twenty events in the Southeastern United States. Only this event brings you to the "Grand Canyon" of the Tennessee river by car, boat or bus.

Autumn’s beauty reigns in the Chattanooga tri-state area, reaching its peak in late October and early November. The area is ablaze with color from more than 300 species of trees and 900 varieties of wildflowers. Only Manchuria, China, has a greater variety of plant life. Because of this variety and the change of elevation, color erupts in the higher elevations in September and lingers into December.

The Fall Color Cruise and Folk Festival has everything to stimulate all your senses. Along with autumn’s beauty, there are human-created delights such as folk music, bluegrass, rock, country and contemporary, sparked by dance teams and cloggers.

Information: Folk Color Cruise & Folk Festival, 1000 Alhambra Dr., Chattanooga, TN 37421-3799; (423) 892-0223.

COLORS AND CRAFTS HIGHLIGHT HARVEST SEASON IN GATLINBURG, TN

The cool mountain air blowing through Gatlinburg brings a special feeling. This mountain village nestled in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains undergoes a transformation as brilliant as the fall colors.

The period from Labor Day to Thanksgiving has become a favorite time for families without school-age children to travel. "After Labor Day, the pace is a little slower, the weather is comfortable and it’s a beautiful time to visit the mountains," says Gatlinburg Department of Tourism Director Paul Comer, Jr.

Crowds are smaller, too. According to National Park visitation figures, September logs 30% fewer visits to the Park compared to peak months of July and August.

The cooling weather signals the annual changing leaf color. Night-time temperatures average in the low 40s while daytimes in Gatlinburg are around 85 deg. F. At Newfound Gap, elevation 5,042 feet, temperatures in the day range in the 70s.

Mid-September is the time when leaves begin to turn at higher elevations. Colors progress down the slopes to Gatlinburg where they may remain colorful well into November.

As cooler weather sets in, the cozy glow of a fireplace becomes attractive. Gatlinburg alone has more than 1,5000 units with in-room fireplaces, scattered throughout the city in hotels, chalets and condominium rental units.

As leaves peak, many craft events begin. Premier among these is Gatlinburg Craftsmen’s Fair , October 8-26, at the Gatlinburg Convention Center

Visit too the 8-mile loop of shops, galleries and studios that make up the Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community. Here is the largest group of independent artisans in the country, with beautiful hand-crafted treasures for you to take home and share.

The eighth annual G. Webb Homecoming Days in the community offers old-fashioned fun in a picturesque setting of art, mountain music, food and friendly folks.

When fall color has peaked, you can look to the sky, follow the brightest star and find yourself in Gatlinburg at the seventh Annual Smoky Mountain Lights Festival. Displays complete with animation stand 20 to 60 feet high, lighting up the night November through February. This magnificent show has been awarded No. 1 Special Event in the South by the Southeast Tourism Society and a top-100 event in the United States by the American Bus Association.

For a free Gatlinburg Vacation Guide, call the Gatlinburg Dept. of Tourism: (800) 267-7088 or (423) 430-4148; website: http://www.Gatlinburg.com

THIS AUTUMN YOU CAN RIDE RAILROADING'S GOLDEN AGE THROUGH TENNESSEE

Now you can have the thrill of riding a re-created 1930s shortline passenger railroad using World War II era steam and diesel locomotives through November.

The Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum offers rail services throughout the fall season. Regularly scheduled trains run daily between the railroad’s Grand Junction and East Chattanooga Depots through November.

Enjoy an authentic train ride, historic railroad exhibits, audiovisual program, turntable in operation and a tour of the restoration shop. In the fall, special trips will include a dining car luncheon and several hour travel experience. A special Rails to Wings excursion will run Saturday, September 27 to LaFayette, GA, to the annual Walker County Airshow which often includes members of the Confederate Air Force and their restored World War II aircraft.

Saturday October 4 will feature two steam locomotives operating doubleheader-style, pulling an excursion train to LaFayette. The trip kicks off the Museum’s exciting Autumn Leaf Steam trip schedule which runs throughout October and into early November. Excursions will be headed by famous steam locomotive #4501, often called the real Chattanooga Choo Choo. Reservations are needed for these autumn trips which run October 4, 11, 18, 19, 25, 26 and November 1 and 8.

Information: Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Rd., Chattanooga, TN 37421-2119; (423) 894-8028 or (800) 397-5544.

STOP BY THE CRANBERRY FESTIVAL IN SHADY VALLEY, TN

Beginning with an evening bean supper and auction on October 10 and filling the day on Saturday, October 11, the Cranberry Festival of Shady Valley, TN offers food and fun. Enjoy apple butter and cider making, displays of antique cars and farm tractors, compete in horseshoe throwing, watch pottery being made, ride a hot air balloon, purchase hand-made crafts and arts...there’s something here for everyone. Information: Cranberry Festival, PO Box 44, Shady Valley, TN 37688; (423) 739-3942.