Get Off The Couch: Civil War events top busy week

Thursday, September 12, 2013

"There was a land of Cavaliers and Cotton Fields called the Old South... Here in this pretty world Gallantry took its last bow... Here was the last ever to be seen of Knights and their Ladies Fair, of Master and of Slave... Look for it only in books, for it is no more than a dream remembered. A Civilization gone with the wind ..."

-- From the opening of "Gone With the Wind"

BARRY COURTER: Lisa, Southerners have been accused of continuing to fight the War of Northern Aggression long after the last shots rang out almost 150 years ago, and it appears we are going to see a lot of that come to life in the coming weeks and months. From re-enactments to living demonstrations to special dinners to lectures, the calendar is full of events celebrating the 150th anniversary of several battles and events in our area that took place during the Civil War.

LISA DENTON: Fiddle-dee-dee. How will we evuh get around to all these events?

Seriously, the schedule is jam-packed. This weekend is the big re-enactment of the Battle of Chickamauga, which is expected to draw 10,000 re-enactors and no telling how many spectators to Mountain Cove Farms in Walker County, Ga.

A lot of the historic houses will be open with extra hours and activities, too. That list includes the John Ross House in Rossville and the Marsh House Museum in LaFayette. The Wardlaw Building in LaFayette will have a history exhibit open, too, and the 6th Cavalry Museum in Fort Oglethorpe has an exhibit of Civil War-inspired artworks.

Plus, the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera will return to Chickamauga Battlefield on Saturday for a Pops in the Park concert at Wilder Tower.

BARRY: Great Jee-ho-sa-phat! This is a busy week to be sure. That's a big deal that the CSO is returning to the park, and it's great they are doing this as part of the celebration.

But there is a veritable cornucopia of other choices as well. The first Tennessee Whiskey Festival to benefit the Hart Gallery is Saturday at First Tennessee Pavilion. The Trail of Tears motorcycle ride is Saturday as well. And the natrional touring company of "Beauty and the Beast" is at Memorial Auditorium for two shows Saturday and Sunday. The cast and crew have been here since Friday getting ready to take the new show on the road. I've seen it produced here before, and it was really good.

LISA: "Beauty and the Beast" is one of my favorite Disney stories. I especially like the witty wordplay in the "Gaston" song. That's good stuff.

If you want to travel, on Thursday the DeKalb Theatre in Fort Payne, Ala., will host the "Ricky Nelson Remembered" show, a tribute by Nelson's twin sons, Matthew and Gunnar. You may remember them from their long-haired rock days as the band Nelson in the early '90s.

I read somewhere that the Nelsons are listed in the Guinness World Record as the only family to reach No. 1 record status in three successive generations, beginning with grandparents Ozzie and Harriet, who started out in music before becoming TV stars. I did not know that.

BARRY: I remember the long blond hair. Didn't know that about their record either, but it makes sense.

Speaking of long flowing hair, or guys that used to have it, Confederate Railroad is back at Lake Winnie on Sunday.

LISA: I'm sure you're just referring to the wigs they wore in that "Trashy Women" video.

Get event details every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com.

Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.