Fall Fairs & Festivals: Your guide to fall fun within a two-hour drive of Chattanooga

photo The Matachines of St. Clement, from Calhoun, Ga., perform a traditional Mexican dance during the RiverRocks' Culture Fest at the Chattanooga Market last year. RiverRocks festival opens Oct. 3, with events running through Oct. 26.

There is a notable deletion to this fall's festival circuit.

Signal Mountain's Hodgepodge has called it a day. A community craft show, it was begun by Lavene Guthrie 40 years ago and grew into an October tradition. At its height of popularity, women would take off work to be first in line for its Friday morning openings because it was slim pickings by Saturday.

Hodgepodge's management has juggled between the town of Signal Mountain, the Mountain Arts Community Center and even Chattanooga Market in the last few years. Last year's management tried shifting days from Friday-Saturday to Saturday-Sunday to see if that might boost attendance.

But this spring, the Signal Mountain Town Council decided Hodgepodge wasn't making enough revenue to justify the work involved in putting on the show, says Barb Storm, director of Signal Mountain MACC.

But just when it appeared Signal Mountain would no longer have its community event, Dawn Skowronnek stepped up. She's launching "FauxPodge."

photo Matthew Parker, 6, and sister Emma Parker, 8, play on tractors at the 2013 Prater's Mill Country Fair.

"I think it's important for the town of Signal Mountain to have something," she says. "It's definitely my intention to put a show together, but it's going to be on a smaller scale because we are doing it at the last minute. Hodgepodge is near and dear to the community; I'm trying to fill that void."

Skowronnek has already built a reputation as a civic volunteer who knows how to put on events. She helped organize Hodgepodge in past years and she helped her son, Jack, launch Chattanoggins, the annual head-shaving event at Chattanooga Market that raises money to fight childhood cancer.

Skowronnek has set a tentative date of Nov. 1 for FauxPodge, and she's waiting for confirmation on the venue. She says the booth fee will be $50. Anyone interested can email fauxpodge1@gmail.com for an application.

FauxPodge is among 81 festivals and fairs listed in today's 2014 Fall Festival Guide. Tear it out for future reference, or check timesfreepress.com throughout the coming weeks since the list will be updated as the season progresses.

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

2014 FALL FESTIVAL GUIDE

TODAY-MONDAY

* Mountain Heritage Festival: One block south of town square on Highway 19, Blairsville, Ga., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. today, free. 706-745-2628.

* Running Water Powwow/Cherokee Homecoming: Ridge Ferry Park, 393 Riverside Parkway, Rome, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today; 1 p.m. Grand Entry, $7 ages 13-64, under 12 and over 65 free. runningwaterpowwow.com.

* Ider Mule Day: Town Park, 183 Sweetgum Road, Ider, Ala., 9:30 a.m. CDT Monday, starts with free parade; remainder of festival in park is $2 ages 6 and up, additional charge to enter mule pull. 256-657-4184.

photo John Wilson sets Alaina Pederson in place for a pony ride at last year's Hamilton County Fair. The 2014 fair is set for Sept. 27-28.

SEPT. 4-7

* Yellow Daisy Festival: Stone Mountain Park, Atlanta, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Saturday, free admission, $10 parking. stonemountainpark.com/events/yellow-daisy-festival.

* Mountaineer Folk Festival: Fall Creek Falls State Park, 2009 Village Cap Road, Pikeville, Tenn., opens 6:30 p.m. Friday with square dance and jam session, 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $3 per person per day. 423-881-5708.

* Battle of Tunnel Hill Re-enactment: Western & Atlantic Railroad Tunnel, 215 Clisby Austin Road, Tunnel Hill, Ga., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, campsites open, battle begins at 2 p.m. each day, $10 ages 13 and older, re-enactment marks 150th anniversary of Civil War's Battle of Tunnel Hill. 706-271-8478.

* Railfest: Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum, 4119 Cromwell Road, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, $20 ages 13 and older, $15 ages 12 and younger. 423-894-8028.

* Pine Log Arts and Crafts Fair: Pine Log United Methodist Church campgrounds, Highway 411, Rydal, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $3 ages 12 and older. 770-607-5350.

SEPT. 5-14

* Tennessee State Fair: Tennessee state fairgrounds, 500 Wedgewood Ave., Nashville, Tenn., gates open at 5 p.m. on Sept. 5 & Sept. 10-12; 10 a.m. on Sept. 6 & Sept. 13, noon on Sept. 7 & Sept. 14, 8:30 a.m. on Sept. 8-9, closes 10 p.m. nightly; $8 adults, $6 ages 3-18, $25 ride wristbands Monday-Friday, $30 Saturday-Sunday. tnstatefair.org.

SEPT. 11-NOV. 2

* Oktoberfest: Helen Festhalle, 1074 Edelweiss Strasse, Helen, Ga. Open Sept. 11-14, then daily Sept. 18-Nov. 2, 6-10:30 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, 6 p.m.-midnight Fridays, 1 p.m.-midnight Saturdays, 1-7 p.m. Sundays; $8 Mondays-Fridays, $10 Saturdays, free on Sundays. 800-858-8027.

SEPT. 12-14

photo William Gignilliat has his face painted by Andrea Brownlow at the Prater's Mill Country Fair. This year's fair is set for Oct. 11-12.

* Mountain Music Arts and Crafts Festival: Vogel State Park, 405 Vogel State Park Road, Blairsville, Ga., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; $5 adults, $2 children, $5 parking. 706-745-2628.

* International Cowpea Festival and Cookoff: City Park, Charleston, Tenn., opens at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, free admission, $5 parking, $5 souvenir spoon entitles holder to sample each recipe and vote for favorite. cowpeafestival.com.

* White Oak Craft Fair: The Arts Center of Cannon County, 1424 John Bragg Highway, Woodbury, Tenn., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT Saturday-Sunday, free admission, $3 parking. 615-563-2787.

* Collegedale Flea Market Festival: Collegedale Community Church, 4995 Swinyar Drive, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, free, flea market, vendors and hot rod show. 423-344-6497.

SEPT. 19-21

* Boom Days Heritage Celebration: City Park, Fort Payne, Ala., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT Saturday, free; 8 p.m. concert by Wet Willie in DeKalb Theatre, tickets: 256-845-2741.

* War Between the States Day: Gordon Lee Mansion, Chickamauga, Ga., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, free admission, tours of mansion $5 adults, $1 ages 12 and under. Annual barbecue cook-off and crafts show marks 125th anniversary of Blue & Gray Barbecue. 423-488-0861.

* Arts Festival at Rose Lawn: Rose Lawn mansion, 224 W. Cherokee Ave., Cartersville, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, free admission to festival, tours of historic Victorian mansion $5 adults, $2 children. 770-387-5162.

* Festival!: Creative Arts Guild, 520 W. Waugh St., Dalton, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, free. 706-278-0168.

* Roswell Arts Festival: Town square, Roswell, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, free, catch free shuttle at Roswell City Hall, 38 Hill St. roswellartsfestival.com

SEPT. 20-NOV. 2

* Old McDonald's Farm: McDonald Farm in Sale Creek, Saturdays and Sundays, Sept. 20-21 and Sept. 27-28, Oct. 4-5, Oct. 11-12, Oct. 18-19 and Oct. 25-26 and Nov. 1-2. Also open Halloween. Open Tuesdays-Fridays by appointment for school groups, birthday parties, other private parties. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays, noon-7 p.m. Sundays, $12 age 3 and older, pumpkins an additional charge. 423-531-CORN.

SEPT. 22-27

* DeKalb County VFW Agricultural Fair: VFW Fairgrounds, 100 18th St., Fort Payne, Ala., 5 p.m. CDT gates open, 6 p.m. rides start, $3 adults, $1 ages 6-12, additional charge for rides. 256-996-7473.

SEPT. 22-NOV. 1

* National Southern Gospel and Harvest Celebration: Dollywood, 2700 Dollywood Parks Blvd., Pigeon Forge, Tenn., $59 ages 12-59, $47 ages 4-11, admission includes free concerts. 800-365-5996.

SEPT. 26-28

* Tennessee Craft Fall Fair: Lawn of the Parthenon, Nashville, Tenn., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. CDT Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT Sunday, free, fine arts show sponsored by nonprofit formerly known as Tennessee Association of Craft Artists. tennesseecraft.org.

* Fall Heritage Festival & Old Timers Day: Townsend Visitors Center, 7906 Lamar Alexander Parkway, Townsend, Tenn., 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, free admission, $8 parking. 865-273-1257.

* 41A Music and Arts Festival: North Atlanta and Grundy streets, downtown Tullahoma, Tenn., 6-11 p.m. CDT Friday, noon-11:30 p.m. CDT Saturday, free. facebook.com/41A-music-festival.

* Rock Spring Show and Sale: Rock Spring United Methodist Church, Highway 95 and Peavine Road, Rock Spring, Ga., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, free. 706-764-1404.

* Harvest at the Homestead: Red Top Mountain State Park, 50 Lodge Road, Cartersville, Ga., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, free admission, $5 parking. 770-975-0055.

* Hamilton County Fair: Chester Frost Park, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $6 adults, $4 age 3-12 shuttle fare includes gate admission, park at Northgate Mall or Middle Valley Recreation Center and ride shuttle to fairgrounds. hamiltontn.gov/fair.

* Homestead Apple Festival: Homestead Tower Museum, junction of Highways 127 and 68, four miles south of Crossville,Tenn., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. CDT Saturday-Sunday, $5 ages 16 and older. 931-456-9663.

* Riverfest Arts and Crafts Festival: Boling Park, 1200 Marietta Highway, Canton, Ga., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 12 and older. serviceleague.net/riverfest.

Candler Park Fall Fest: Candler Park, corner of McLendon Avenue and Candler Park Drive, Atlanta, Ga., noon-9 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, free; tour of homes noon-6 p.m. Saturday. fallfest.candlerpark.org.

SEPT. 26-OCT. 5

* Georgia State Fair: Atlanta Motor Speedway, 1500 Tara Place, Hampton, Ga., gates open at 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. Saturdays, noon Sundays, $10 adults, $5 ages 5-12 and 60 and older, $20 ride wristbands. georgiastatefair.org.

SEPT. 27-OCT. 25

* Rotary Club Craft Fair: Patriot Park, Pigeon Forge, Tenn., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, free. 865-909-3446.

OCT. 2-12

* Cumming Country Fair and Festival: Cumming Fairgrounds, 235 Castleberry Road, Cumming, Ga., 4 p.m.-midnight Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight Saturday, 12:30-9 p.m. Sundays, $7 adults, $3 ages 5-18 at the gate, $3 parking. 770-781-3491.

OCT. 3-26

* River Rocks: Four weeks of rock climbing, trail running, kayaking, rowing, swimming, off-road biking, paddling, cycling in the mountains and on the waterways of the Tennessee Valley. Festival opens with vendors fair Oct. 3 in Coolidge Park. For more information on schedule and entry fees, check riverrockschattanooga.com.

OCT. 3-5

* Quilt Show: Mount Olive Church of God, 3533 Harrison Pike, Cleveland, Tenn., 8 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, $3 includes chance at drawing for quilt. 423-472-7567.

* Three Sisters Festival: Ross's Landing, downtown Chattanooga, bluegrass music festival, 6-11 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, free. 423-265-0771.

* Gatlinburg Fine Arts Festival: Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts campus, 556 Parkway, Gatlinburg, Tenn., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, free. www.gfaf.net.

* Craft/Bake Sale: Cloud Springs Baptist Church, 210 Cloud Springs Road, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, free. 706-866-0164.

* Marsh House Heritage Day: Marsh House, 308 N. Main St., LaFayette, Ga., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, $1 admission to historic house for tour led by costumed guide. 706-764-2081.

* Arts and Crafts Fall Festival: L&N Depot, Highway 411, Etowah, Tenn., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-5 p.m. Sunday, free. 423-263-2228.

* Fall Festival: John C. Campbell Folk School, Highway 64, Brasstown, N.C., seven miles east of Murphy, N.C., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $5 adults, $3 ages 12-17. folkschool.org.

* Autumn Children's Festival: Tennessee Riverpark, Amnicola Highway, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday, free admission, charge for children's games 50 cents to $3, benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chattanooga. rmhchattanooga.com.

* CultureFest: Chattanooga Market, First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Reggie White Blvd., 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, free. chattanoogamarket.com

OCT. 9-12

* Holiday Craft Show: Community Complex at Cumberland County Fairgrounds, 1391 Livingston Road, Crossville, Tenn., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Friday, free. 931-456-8590.

* Oktoberfest: Knights of Columbus Fairgrounds, 2892 Highway 70, Crossville, Tenn, 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday, $7.50 ages 15 and older, $10 German dinner. crossvilleoktoberfest.com.

* Fall Bazaar: First United Methodist Church, 3425 Ocoee St., Cleveland, Tenn., 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, free admission, homemade soup and sandwich lunch available for purchase. 423-476-4504.

* Pumpkintown: Downtown Athens, Tenn., 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, free. pumpkintownfestival.com.

* Georgia Apple Festival: Ellijay Lions Fairgrounds, 1729 S. Main, Ellijay, Ga., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 11 and up, $2 parking. georgiaapplefestival.org

* Prater's Mill Country Fair: Prater's Mill, 5845 Georgia Highway 2, 10 miles northeast of Dalton, Ga., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $7 ages 13 and older. 706-694-MILL.

* Arts in the Park: Downtown City Park, Blue Ridge, Ga., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, $5 adults, children free, sponsored by Blue Ridge Mountains Arts Association. 706-632-2144.

* New Salem Mountain Festival: New Salem Community Center, 12477 Highway 136 between Trenton and LaFayette, Ga, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 12 and older. 706-398-1988.

OCT. 9-26

* Gatlinburg Craftsmen's Fair: Gatlinburg Convention Center, 234 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, Tenn., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays, $6 ages 13 and up. craftsmenfair.com.

OCT. 10-18

* Georgia Mountain Fall Festival: Georgia Mountain fairgrounds, Highway 76, Hiwassee, Ga., 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, $12 ages 13 and up, includes admission to music shows, free parking. georgiamountainfairgrounds.com.

OCT. 15-19

* Oktoberfest: Chattanooga Market, First Tennessee Pavilion, 1829 Reggie White Blvd. Annual Sunday market event expands to five days, Wednesday-Sunday, with ticketed dinner on Thursday night. chattanoogaoktoberfest.com.

OCT. 17-19

* ColorFest: Brow Park and downtown Mentone, Ala., Friday night bonfire at sunset, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, free. mentonecolorfest@gmail.com.

* Webb School Arts and Craft Festival: Webb School campus on Church Street and downtown Bell Buckle, Tenn., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT Sunday. bellbucklechamber.com

* Georgia Apple Festival: Ellijay Lions Fairground, 1729 S. Main, Ellijay, Ga., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $5 ages 11 and up, $2 parking. georgiaapplefestival.org.

* Gold Rush Days: Dahlonega, Ga., town square, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, free, business.dahlonega.org/events.

* Ketner's Mill Country Arts Fair: Ketner's Mill, between state Highways 27 and 28 near Whitwell, Tenn., 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday, $6 ages 13 and up. ketnersmill.org.

* Cleveland Apple Festival: Courthouse Square, 155 N. Ocoee St., Cleveland, Tenn., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday, $4 ages 13 and up for one day, $6 for two; $3 children and seniors one day, $4 for two. clevelandapplefestival.org.

OCT. 24-26

* Remembering Our Heroes Day: Barnhardt Circle polo field, Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, $10 adults, $5 active or retired military with ID, ages 18 and younger or 65 and older, $2 JROTC and Scouts wearing uniform shirt. wwiiheroes.net.

OCT. 31-NOV. 2

* Pumpkinfest: Courthouse square, Dayton, Tenn., noon-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, free. mainstreetdayton.org.

* FauxPodge: Saturday hours to be announced, location still being confirmed at press time; admission either $2 or donation of canned foods to Chattanooga Area Food Bank. fauxpodge1@gmail.com.

* Canyon Fest: Little River Canyon Center, 4322 Little River Canyon Parkway, Fort Payne, Ala., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. CDT Saturday, free. 256-782-5697.

* Mountain Arts and Craft Celebration: Cloudland Canyon State Park, 122 Cloudland Park Road, Rising Fawn, Ga., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, free admission, $10 parking. 706-406-3440.

NOV. 7-9

* Foothills Crafts Fair: Manchester-Coffee County Conference Center, 147 Hospitality Blvd., exit 114 off Interstate 24, Manchester, Tenn., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT Friday-Saturday, free admission, lunch $5-$8 served between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. 931-728-9236.

* Gingerbread Shoppe: Christ United Methodist Church, corner of East Brainerd and Morris Hill roads, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, free. 423-499-0618.

* Christmas Village Festival: Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center, 2100 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., Birmingham, Ala., 10 a.m.-8 p.m. CDT Friday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m. CDT Sunday, $10 adults, $4 ages 6-12. christmasvillagefestival.com.

* Hometown Craft Show: Sequatchie County Fairgrounds, Dunlap, Tenn., 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday. fairsandfestivals.net.

* Fall Festival: Belvoir Christian Academy, 800 Belvoir Ave., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, free admission. 423-622-3755.

* NormalPalooza: Normal Park Upper School, 1219 W. Mississippi Ave., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, free admission. 423-255-6358.

* WTCI Family Day: WTCI studio, 7540 Bonnyshire Drive, 1-4 p.m. Sunday, free. 423-702-7819.

NOV. 14-16

* Christmas Village: Tennessee State Fairgrounds, 500 Wedgewood Ave., Nashville, Tenn., 9 a.m.-9 p.m. CDT Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. CDT Saturday, noon-6 p.m. CDT Sunday, ticket price to be announced when they go on sale in October, parking $5. christmasvillage.org.

* Foothills Fine Craft Fair: Chilhowee Park, Jacob Building, 3301 East Magnolia Ave., Knoxville, Tenn., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, $8 ages 14-64, $7 ages 65 and older. foothillscraftguild.org.

NOV. 25-30

* Gatlinburg Thanksgiving Craft Show: Gatlinburg Convention Center, 234 Historic Nature Trail, Gatlinburg, Tenn., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, free. gatlinburgcrafts.org.

NOV. 28-30

* Christmas Arts and Crafts Show: Fairfield Glade Community Conference Center, Highway 127, Crossville, Tenn., 8 a.m.-4 p.m. CDT Friday-Saturday, free. 931-484-3722.

* Christkindlmarkt: Downtown marketplace in Helen, Ga., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, free. 706-878-1908.

DEC. 5-7

* Christkindlmarkt: Downtown marketplace in Helen, Ga., 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, free. 706-878-1908.

DEC. 6, 13, 20

Holiday Markets: Chattanooga Market moves to Chattanooga Convention Center, 1150 Carter St., hours to be announced. chattanoogamarket.com.

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