Follow your heart on October 1 to the Union County Heritage Festival. The 18th Festival expands to four venues in 2022. Visitors can park at Union County High School and enjoy the main event in Wilson Park or board the free shuttle (the big yellow bus) sponsored by Monroe Bus Lines, State Farm Insurance, and City of Plainview to travel to the Farmers Market Pavilion for produce and the Ice Cream Bar, the Union County Museum for the Heritage Day Quilt Show, and the Myers Building (formerly Ailor/Byrd Funeral Home) for the Art Show. All venues are open from 10 a.m.to 4 p.m.
Rise early to enjoy pancakes for breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. at the Union County Museum. Walk off any calories by chatting with the authors, buying some antique items, and viewing dozens of hand-stitched, machine made and heritage quilts.
Leave in time to catch the Festival Opening at Wilson Park at 10 a.m. Mayor Jason Bailey will put plenty of heart in his welcome. The Veterans will lead the pledge and Keaton Roach will sing the National Anthem.
On the grounds will be more than 100 vendors. Arts and craft vendors include woodworking from signs to bowls, wreath making with grapevine, burlap, and tulle, quilts, beaded jewelry, soy candles, and handmade items of every kind.
Heritage crafters will demonstrate chair caning, embroidery, crochet, leather crafting, wood turning, blacksmithing, cloth weaving, corn milling and basket weaving. Purchase “Follow Your Heart,” the collectible print by Betty Bullen at Booth 65.
Get some barbeque at Hawg Heaven BBQ, a hamburger, Italian sausage, tacos, beans and cornbread, hot dogs, fried bologna or chicken ’n dumplins for lunch along with your favorite soda or lemonade. Then head to the Gazebo or the Country Gospel Tent for the best bluegrass, country and gospel music to fill your heart.
Jaxx sponsors the Gazebo Stage this year. Southern Spirit opens followed by headliner Stoney Point Bluegrass Band at 11:15 a.m. A tribute to Carl Smith, the master of love songs, happens at 12:15 p.m. Catch Stoney Point's encore at 12:30 p.m.
Norris Freeway and Sleepy Eyed John’s Band will have your heart tugging and your foot tapping. Then comes the Luttrell Fiddle Club, a dozen or so youngsters who are learning to carry our heritage forward. Then the fourth Heritage Festival Fiddle Contest will end the Gazebo Stage performances.
But maybe country and gospel pull your heart strings. Then take your lunch to the Country Gospel Tent to hear Chris Muncey and Steel Blue open at 12:30 p.m. Just prior to Steel Blue will be the youth winner of the September 24 Luttrell Music Festival. Dustin Ford and Joseph Hensley provide some traditional country and gospel with a modern twist. At 2:45 p.m., gospel sensation KristeNicole and the Journey Road Band rounds out the Gospel Tent. Kristen will sing her latest hit, “Godly Woman.”
Contests abound before and during the festival. Businesses can enter the Business Front Decorations Contest. Await the results of the Pie Baking Contest just after the Carl Smith Tribute.
At Wilson Park, let your heart lead you to participate in the Heritage Olympics sponsored by A & B Bookkeeping. Throw a skillet, toss a feedbag, drive a nail or have your child race with a spoon holding an egg.
Board the free shuttle and travel to the Myers Building to stroll through the Art Show—a variety of mixed media art including 2D, 3D, and photography await your viewing. Many will cause you to follow your heartfelt memories of long ago or a more recent adventure in the hills of Appalachia.
Don’t forget dessert. Follow your heart’s desire for funnel cake, gourmet cupcakes or pie at Wilson Park.
But your heart may tell you to ride the free shuttle to end the day with ice cream at the Farmers Market Pavilion. Return to your car and purchase one of Bill Morgan’s Punkins to help out the Smoky Mountain Home School and prepare for Halloween or Thanksgiving.
Wow! What a Day!