Seven super festivals - Sept. 20-22

Festival attire calls for kilts, hoopskirt gowns or coonskin caps

photo Athletes will compete in a variety of events, including turning the caber, hammer throw and sheaf toss, at the Appalachian Celtic Festival and Highland Games.

FESTIVALS• Appalachian Celtic Festival and Highland Games: Ringgold Municipal Recreation Facility, 288 Emberson Drive, Ringgold, Ga., 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Saturday, $5 adults, $3 children ages 6-12. appalachiancelticconnection.org.• Blue Gray Alliance: Mountain Cove Farms, Chickamauga, Ga. Battle of Chickamauga re-enactment Saturday afternoon with Longstreet's Breakthrough followed by Cleburn's Night Assault; Sunday's battle re-enacts the Snodgrass Hill battle; speaker's tent, sutlers, period church service Sunday morning (More on Page H18). Anniversary festival and barbecue, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday at Gordon Lee Mansion, $5 adults, $1 children. friendsofthegordonleemansion.org.• Boom Days Heritage Celebration: City Park, Fort Payne, Ala., Saturday, 8 a.m. 5K run and Kiwanis pancake breakfast, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. festival, free admission, small fee for children's activities wristband, $10 rock 'n' roll show at 8 p.m. in DeKalb Theatre (all times Central). 256-845-1524.• Festival 2013: Creative Arts Guild, 520 W. Waugh St., Dalton, Ga., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, free. 706-278-0168.• Go!Fest: Chattanooga Zoo, 301 N. Holtzclaw Ave., 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday; free day at the zoo for people of all ages and abilities. gofestchattanooga.org.• Homestead Apple Festival: Grounds of Homestead Tower Museum, junction of highways 127 and 68, four miles south of Crossville, Tenn., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, noon-4 p.m. Sunday (all times Central), $5 adults and $3 children on Saturday, $3 for everyone Sunday. 931-456-9663.• Polly Crockett Festival: Tennessee Avenue in Cowan, Tenn., noon-6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday (all times Central), free admission but nominal charges to register for contests. 931-967-6788.

Seven major festivals are competing for visitors' time this weekend, with themes as diverse as Civil War history, Celtic games and fine art shows.

• In Dalton, Ga., the Creative Arts Guild continues its 50th anniversary celebration with Festival 2013 on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 21-22. This fine art show includes more than 40 exhibitors in an indoor market and almost 40 outside displaying their work in the covered pavilion.

Exhibitors will include Thomas Spake's glass work, metal sculpture by Judy Presley, six potters, six jewelers, plus oil, acrylic or watercolor paintings by two dozen artists.

"Because it's the 50th anniversary of the guild, we have added a free Saturday evening concert," says Terry Tomasello, guild director. "You can bring your lawn chairs and picnics and enjoy jazz singer Lizzie Hebel Thomas, a native Daltonian who lives in New York City. She'll be playing with the Dave Pope Band, and he's also a native of Dalton. For people in this area, it's a real treat to have them."

Sunday afternoon, Lee Bryan, "That Puppet Guy," will present shows at 1 and 3 p.m. in Jonas Performance Hall.

Art lovers who can't wait to browse the booths can get a sneak peek at the Taste of Dalton patron party on Friday, Sept. 20. The $55 ticket includes wine and samples from specialties of nine Dalton restaurants. Tomasello said tickets will be sold at the door.

n The Appalachian Celtic Festival and Highland Games is condensing its annual celebration into one day, Saturday, Sept. 21, at Ringgold Municipal Recreation Facility. This gathering of the clans offers entertainment, athletic games of brawn and skill, concessions and music.

Men in kilts will compete in feats of strength such as turning the caber (pole toss) and feats of feet for the "welly-wangling," a competition that involves kicking off a Wellington boot from the end of the foot.

• Residents of Cowan, Tenn., will be saluting the pioneer spirit of Davy Crockett and his wife, Polly, at the Polly Crockett Festival from Friday through Sunday, Sept. 20-22.

Ninety vendors are expected. Plus there will be music, the This & That Marketplace, Davy's Adventure Zone for kids and a cannon firing at 9 a.m. on Saturday, according to the festival website.

Since it is a cultural heritage festival, there will be a Civil War camp set up with re-enactors in period dress, a skillet toss, buggy rides around downtown Cowan, bluegrass music and cloggers.

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

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