The 15th Annual Union County Heritage Festival offers a multitude of ways to just do more fiddlin' around on Saturday, October 5. With three venues and three music stages, there will be sights, sounds, and activities for all ages.
The 2019 festival culminates a two-year tribute to Roy Acuff, Maynardville native and country music legend, who is hailed as the King of Country Music. The theme of "More Fiddlin' Around" reminds us of the importance of enjoying our time with friends and family, time in reflection, as well as Acuff's favorite instrument. From the opening at 10 a.m. with Mayor Jason Bailey, the Veterans and Keaton Roach, to the last notes of the fiddle contest winners, there will be lots "More Fiddlin' Around in Union County."
After the opening on the Main Stage at the Gazebo, Stoney Point Bluegrass Band will entertain with a medley of familiar and modern tunes with a new twist. Next up will be The Sleepy-Eyed John's Band to entertain with a variety of country music and bluegrass songs with plenty of fiddles played by all ages. Sleepy-Eyed also showcases cloggers.
But the real treat this year is at noon when our own Luttrell Fiddle Club students, under the direction of Ms. Jennifer Fields, fiddle some familiar tunes as well as dance and sing some memorable folk songs. The club's instruments from Wilhite Strings were made possible through an East Tennessee Foundation Arts Fund Grant to help us grow our own fiddlers.
Afterwards will be the tribute to Roy Acuff, then Andy Williams and the Cumberland Station Band. Rounding out the Gazebo Stage will be a special performance by Southern Spirit who is now a duo. Shandy and Chris delight in entertaining with their own original lyrics and melodies.
More music and fiddling will stream from the Front Porch Stage. Wild Blue Yonder Band offers a mixture of traditional country dating back to the Carter family, as well as hints of some Irish ballads like Blue-Eyed Suzy. WBY features one of the best fiddlers in these parts, Cindy Wallace, a teacher in Claiborne County.
Dustin Ford showcases the talents of our youth with his own renditions of Wabash Cannonball, made famous by Roy Acuff and later Johnny Cash. Union County's own Virginia Faith will strum her ukulele straight to your heart with her Dolly Parton voice.
Some of the best banjo pickin' and fiddlin' will land on stage with Wayne & Eric. Their musical talent and expertise combines for nearly a century of country, bluegrass and gospel songs. More fiddling will appear with Norris Freeway Band in the form of toe-tappin', foot-stompin' melodies from country to bluegrass.
At 1 p.m. the Front Porch Stage will erupt with More Fiddlin' All Around with the second Heritage Festival Fiddle Contest. Amateurs from three counties will compete for cash prizes. First place awards $300, second place $200, and the third place winner receives $100. A grant from the East Tennessee Foundation Arts Fund supports the contest.
The Gospel Tent will immerse the audience in praise all day with songs like “I Saw the Light”. Newcomer Ken Chezik from Blaine will bring some familiar gospel tunes.
Ken will be followed by our own Alder Springs Choir who will make you feel like you have truly walked with the Lord.
Returning from a couple of years back will be The Atkins, a mother and daughter who play and sing many gospel and traditional favorites as well as some of their own original tunes.
Gospel Strings, who may bring you to your feet with their moving sounds of modern and traditional praise, will close out the afternoon at the Gospel Tent.
All this music is sure to ignite your appetite. Country victuals include 4-H Cornbread n' Beans with pie from the 4-H Pie Contest, sponsored by Maynardville Coin Laundry. New this year will be Willy's Wood Fired Pizza with a variety of tasty fillings and gooey cheese in a crispy or thick crust.
Of course, Hawg Heaven will offer BBQ with twirled taters and smoked bologna. Pick up a jar of homemade apple butter from the Scottish Rite Club and cool off with a shaved Italian ice from the Lions Club.
Try a burger or hot dog from The Voices of Children Haiti and wash it down with lemonade. Relish every morsel of a funnel cake served by Rainbo. Enjoy breakfast and sandwiches at Milan Church near the Front Porch. Other festival fare will include funnel cakes, kettle corn and cotton candy.
On the walking trail above the Gazebo will be tractors from the 1900's to the 1950's. Beginning at 2 p.m., the tractors will parade through the festival, down Main Street, and return to Veteran's Place. A dozen or so Model A autos will greet visitors near the entrance to Veteran's Place. Martin Shafer will be turning wood at his lathe powered by his hit n' miss engine near the entrance to the Back When section.
Lester Wilson returns after many years to demonstrate basket weaving. Both Wilson and Linda Steele will demonstrate the art of chair caning.
The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) Canton of Hochwald will offer medieval combat and artistry demonstrations along with heritage crafts and dancing on the way to the tractors.
Over 50 arts and craft vendors include woodworking from signs to toys, wreath making with grapevine, burlap and tulle, beaded jewelry, homemade soap, and soy candles. Heritage crafts will demonstrate chair caning, embroidery, crochet and quilting.
The Luttrell Volunteer Fire department will host the Kidz Train and Bounce House. Nearby in the Kidz Zone, children can ride the Shetland Hills ponies or pet a farm animal. Moss's Fantastical Events Duck Pond and Basketball Toss offer super prizes for a small fee for the games.
Children can compete in the Heritage Olympics at 10:45 a.m. in Nail Driving and at 2:30 p.m. in the Pumpkin Seed Spitting Contest. Then they can watch their parents and other adults do Nail Driving, also at 10:45 a.m., or the Feed Bag Toss at the same time. Moms and other women can participate in the Skillet Throw at 3 p.m. Lodge Cast Iron sponsors the prizes.
Children can make items for Operation Christmas Child, have their face painted by Nikki, and get a history lesson from Bradford Rose Camp #1638.
Visitors can hop on the free shuttle sponsored by Monroe Bus Lines, State Farm Insurance and City of Plainview to relax and ride to the Union County Museum and the Historic Snodderly House.
Wanda's Vintage Glass Market is a must at the Museum. Homemade molasses, collectible glassware and other items will be for sale for $5 or less each. Four authors will discuss their books and offer signed copies for sale.
Of course the featured attraction is the Heritage Quilt Show. Ellen Perry and her committee will display quilts from several counties. Some will reflect the theme, "Fiddlin' Around." Others are family heirlooms proudly displayed. Some are hand stitched, others machine sewn. All provide a colorful display of talent and craftsmanship.
Next visitors can ride the shuttle to 720 Main Street, the Historic Snodderly House, where Betty Bullen, Gloria Holcomb, and Chantay Collins will display the Fine Art, Student Art and Photography contests. Both two- and three-dimensional art from amateur area artists and UCHS and HMMS students are part of the exhibit.
Photography of Union County people and places, along with those that depict the theme "More Fiddlin' Around," will be on display. Prizes are sponsored by Jerry's Artarama. Visitors can also view a Professional Artist Exhibit and the Archived Collectible Prints.
Board the shuttle to return to Wilson Park. Grab a funnel cake, some produce from the Farmers Market, and don't forget your Collectible Print to remember how you spent October 5, 2019, in Maynardville just doin' "More Fiddlin' Around."
And come back October 12 for the Union County Opry!