Fill up on barbecue, sweet tea, fiddlers and fishing
Regional festivals draw themes from Southern favorites
Four short day-trips will take you to regional festivals this weekend that offer family fun with music, food, fiddlers and fly-fishing.
Sweet Tea and Sunshine Festival in Cleveland, Tenn., is making its debut. Calhoun, Ga.’s BBQ , Boogie and Blues is a Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned event being held to coincide with the Georgia String Band Festival.
A roundup follows with a brief overview of what you’ll find at each.
SWEET TEA AND SUNSHINE FESTIVAL
› Where: Greenway Park and Pavilion, 755 Raider Drive, Cleveland, Tenn.
› When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, April 29; noon-5 p.m. Sunday, April 30
› Admission: Free This new community festival put on by Touch the Sky Events includes music by Double Cross Bluegrass Band, free fun for kids on inflatables, nine food truck vendors, 137 craft and business vendors, a beauty pageant Saturday at 10 a.m. and, of course, plenty of sweet tea.
› For more information: 423-650-1388
BBQ, BOOGIE & BLUES
› Where: 109 S. King St., downtown Calhoun, Ga.
› When: 6-10 p.m. Friday, April 28; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 29
› Admission: free to festival, some individual events require fee.
The festival kicks off Friday night with a barbecue buffet at Velo Vineyard, 106 N. Wall St. in Calhoun. At that same time, vendors will be opening on Court Street, where Kurt Thomas will perform at 7 p.m., and Park Avenue.
The Georgia String Band Festival begins at Harris Arts Center, 212 S.
Wall St., at 7 p.m. There is a $20 ticket for that.
Saturday’s visitors can try the food of the competitors in this Kansas City Barbecue Society-sanctioned contest beginning at 11 a.m. outside the library for $10, then vote for the People’s Choice Award. Judges’ awards will be presented at 4 p.m.
In addition to barbecue, festivities will include food and crafts vendors, kids zone, an Amazing Race, bike safety rodeo and family ride, antique car cruise-in and live music on Court Street.
Registration for the Gordon County Fiddlers’ Convention starts at
noon at the Harris Arts Center. The convention starts at 1 p.m. There is a $10 ticket for ages 13 and older.
› For more information: 706-625-3200
BLUE RIDGE TROUT FESTIVAL
› Where: City Park in downtown Blue Ridge
› When: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, April 29
› Admission: $5 This festival is a fisherman’s mecca.
There will be a marketplace with 70 vendors showing the latest and greatest gear for fishing, as well as hiking, camping, cycling, mountain-biking and kayaking.
Get some inside tips about trout-fishing hot spots from local fishing guides and outfitters.
Atlanta Fly Fishing School will have a tent on-site complete with casting pond. The school will offer talks every halfhour beginning at 10:30 a.m. that will cover topics from what fly-fishing equipment you really need to spey vs. fly casting.
› For more information: blueridgetroutfest. com
FIBER, FARM AND ART FESTIVAL
› Where: North Georgia Zoo and Farm, 2912 Paradise Valley Road, Cleveland, Ga.
› When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday, April 29-30
› Admission: $23 adult, $21 children ages 2-11
It’s sheepshearing time! Take the family to the North Georgia Zoo and Farm to learn all about sheepshearing and how to spin wool. Plus, you’ll leave with a free wool sample.
Craftsmen in the festival will show fiber arts, knitted products, painting, handmade crafts and more.
Friday, April 28, is open only to school groups, homeschool classes and day cares. A special admission of $5 per person is offered. Students will take fiber samples home with them.
› For more information: 706-348-7279