Valley Fest in Dunlap is downtown throwdown - May 3-4

Thursday, May 1, 2014

Dunlap, Tenn., is throwing its annual party this weekend at the intersection of Rankin Avenue and Cherry Street. Variety - in food, art and entertainment - seems to be the buzzword for Valley Fest, set for 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, May 3, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, May 4 (all times are Central).

Tickets to the downtown throwdown are $5 per day for adults, $2 per day for children. Two-day wristbands may be bought in advance for $8 at local banks and businesses. Find out more at www.valleyfestonline.com.

Music: Exile was such a crowd pleaser last year that festival organizers are bringing the country/pop band back for another headlining performance at 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The band's litany of hits includes "Kiss You All Over," "Woke Up in Love," "Crazy for You" and "I Can't Get Close Enough."

Headlining Sunday is T. Graham Brown, a country star who hit the charts with "Wine Into Water," "Hell and High Water," "Darlene" and "I Tell It Like It Used To Be."

Other performers include Cody McCarver, Daniel Rogers, Cary Hudson and Roger Alan Wade.

Food: Concessions will include everything from the Southern classic chicken and dumplings to Korean delicacies. Plus, it's a chance to try local favorite "stump dogs," which derive their special flavor from a smoldering tree stump.

Art show: The array of works represents the talents of some 45 regional artists, many of whom live in Sequatchie County or Bledsoe County.

Parade: Steps off at noon Saturday, featuring the Sequatchie County High School Band, Alhambra Highlander Pipe & Drum Band and Emerald Hips bellydancers among its entrants.

Car show: Lasts from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, with a $20 entry fee per car. Prizes will be awarded in several categories, and visitors are eligible for door prizes.

Walk/run: The race route for the 5K or 10K runs and the one-mile fun run/walk begins downtown at the Sequatchie Dunlap Chamber of Commerce. Registration starts at 6:30 a.m., and race time is 7:30 p.m. Look for registration information online.

Beauty pageant: Begins at 9 a.m. Saturday for youths from 1 month to 20 years old (girls only in the older categories). The contests are open to residents of Bledsoe, Marion and Sequatchie counties. Entry fee is $25.