Getting ready for fairs, eclipse
LISA DENTON: Barry, it seems a little early and, frankly, a little hot for fall festivals, but they’re already starting. Did you see Sunday’s story? We used to do a big preview page of festivals on Labor Day weekend — and we’re still planning to run that big list — but there are so many “fall” activities in August now, that we ran a preview of the preview yesterday.
This weekend, we’re looking at the Rhea County Fair in Evensville, to be followed by Bledsoe, Sequatchie, Cumberland and Chattooga county fairs as we go through the month.
For the record, the first day of fall is Sept. 22.
BARRY COURTER: Coincidentally, I believe that is now the first official day of the Christmas season as well.
LISA: It’s also worth mentioning that Astronomy Weekend with the Cumberland Astronomical Society is coming up Friday and Saturday at Fall Creek Falls State Park. Activities are held late in the day and after dark, but it would be a good chance to bone up how to prepare for the Great American Eclipse on Aug. 21.
BARRY: My middle-school friends used to call me the Great American Eclipse. Kids can be cruel.
It’s been interesting to hear about all of the excitement surrounding such a rare celestial event. People sure can get worked up over a three-minute event.
LISA: Oh, I understand it. For some of us, memorable three-minute events are few and far between. Like the last in 1979 — and that one not even in the right location. Or the next in 2023 — which is sort of in the vicinity. But this one should be transcendent.
BARRY: Are we still talking about the eclipse?
LISA: Uh, sure. In the introduction to his book “American Eclipse,” science writer David Baron described the 1979 eclipse, which passed across the Pacific Northwest, this way:
“For three glorious minutes, I felt transported to another planet, indeed to a higher plane of reality, as my consciousness departed the Earth and I gaped at an alien sky.” I mean, that sounds pretty profound for a little afternoon delight.
BARRY: Seriously, are we still talking about the eclipse?
Moving on, we have some interesting music coming to town as well. Major and the Moonbacks are at Nightfall on Friday while Galactic Cowboy Orchestra will headline Riverfront Nights on Saturday.
If you like tribute bands, 1964 will be doing Beatles music at the Tivoli on Saturday while the Jerry Garcia Band will be paying tribute to the Grateful Dead legend the same night at Revelry Room.
And it’s time for another Second Saturdays on Station Street, and the Songbirds Foundation, which produces the free events, has something special planned. Before the Power Players and The Beaters performances, guitarist Chris Blackwell will give a mini-concert playing four electric guitars from the Songbirds Guitar Museum collection.
It takes place from 3 to 8 p.m. Foundation director Reed Caldwell says the idea is show off the guitars and to let people know they are not only cool-looking, but they sound great.
Get event details every Thursday in ChattanoogaNow or online anytime at www.ChattanoogaNow.com. Contact Barry Courter at bcourter@timesfree press.com or 423-757-6354. Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.