Americalypso Band plays Sunday at noon at the first BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass Festival in Dalton, Ga.Deadline Friday for Fall Festival Guide listings
If your organization is planning a fall festival or arts and crafts show, we want to hear about it.The Times Free Press will publish its annual Fall Festival Guide on Sunday, Sept. 3, featuring more than 100 events within a two-hour drive (one way) of Chattanooga.The deadline to submit information is Friday, Aug. 25. There is no charge to be included.Email your event’s name, location with street address, days and hours, admission fee and a contact phone or website to Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com.
When Beersheba Springs Arts and Crafts Fair opens its gates on Saturday, Aug. 26, for the 51st annual show, it also marks the beginning of the fall arts and craft season.
While that granddaddy of fall shows anchors this weekend's festivals, there's yet another new one adding to the fall festival schedule. BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass Festival will make its debut in Dalton, Ga., on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 26-27, at the North Georgia Ag Fairground.
Beersheba Springs Arts and Crafts Fair presents about 150 exhibitors on the grounds of the historic Beersheba United Methodist Assembly Grounds. This festival has stayed true to its original policy set 51 years ago that only handmade, original work will be accepted.
All proceeds from this show go right back into the Beersheba Springs community, says Fran Holt, a festival spokeswoman. Donations are made to the Beersheba Springs library, rescue squad, local nursing homes, Grundy County Center for Exceptional Citizens and North Elementary School. Funds are also used to fill food baskets for needy families.
About 150 arts and crafts vendors will be spread across the historic Beersheba United Methodist Assembly Grounds at the 51st annual Beersheba Springs Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday and Sunday.Food vendors will be located on the grounds and hot meals will be served in the Assembly's dining hall as well.
Organizers of BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass Festival are jumping into the festival spirit with an ambitious lineup of music, a barbecue cookoff, kids zone, arts and crafts vendors, motorcycle contest and cornhole tournament in its first year.
Admission is free, there is a $1 fee for parking per vehicle. Food and drinks, arts and crafts and some children's rides are available for a fee. As of press time, nearly 100 food and craft vendors had signed up.
Saturday's musical lineup is Shellem Cline, 3 p.m.; Appalachian Travelers, 4 p.m.; Austin Zackary, 6 p.m.; Charlsey Etheridge, 7 p.m.; The Band Antle, 8 p.m.
Americalypso Band gets the music started Sunday at noon. The remainder of the afternoon's acts are Connor Priest at 1:30 p.m., Sing for the King at 2:30 p.m. and YLP2 Music at 3 p.m.
For more information about BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass Festival: 706-503-1809.
Festivals, fairs this weekend
› Aug. 24-26: Polk County Fair, Showbarn at Polk County Fairgrounds, Route 411 at Parksville Road, Benton, Tenn., 5-11 p.m. each day, free admission; midway, music, games, livestock competitions and Fairest of the Fair pageant. 423-338-5040.› Aug. 24-26: Sequatchie County Fair, 103 Heard St., Dunlap, Tenn. Gates open 2 p.m. CDT Thursday, 10 a.m. Friday-Saturday; $3 Thursday, $5 Friday and Saturday. 423-298-5280.› Aug. 24-27: Chattooga County Agriculture Fair, 34 Middle School Road, Summerville, Ga. Gates open 5 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. $5. www.chattoogafair.com.› Aug. 25-Sept. 2: Cumberland County Fair, 34 Music Road, Crossville, Tenn. Gates open 5 p.m. weeknights, 9:30 a.m. Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sunday (all times Central). 931-484-9454› Aug. 26-27: BBQ, Blues and Bluegrass Festival, North Georgia Ag Fairground, 500 Legion Drive, Dalton, Ga. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. each day. Free. 706-503-1809.› Aug. 26-27: Beersheba Springs Arts and Crafts Fair, Beersheba United Methodist Assembly Grounds, 55 Hege Ave. off Highway 56, Beersheba Springs, Tenn. 10 a.m.-6 p.m CDT Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. CDT Sunday, free. 931-692-3691.