Visitors to the family-friendly event can watch live demonstrations of traditional folk life skills, listen to live bluegrass and old-time music.
The Mountain Makins Festival, which celebrated its 40th year in 2015, received the Kaleidoscope "Best Festival in the Southeast 2016 Award" from the Southeast Festivals and Events Association. The festival, a combination of crafts, food, music, dancing and fun, is celebrated at Rose Center Saturday, Oct. 22 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 23 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
"We were so honored to receive this award," said Beccy Hamm, festival director. "The trophy belongs to all the volunteers who have invested so much time and energy over the years, and to the gifted artists, musicians, demonstrators, dancers, storytellers and other participants whose talents make it such a great festival."
The celebration begins with a Preview Party Friday, Oct. 21, from 6:30 – 9 p.m., with musical entertainment by the Pea Pickin' Hearts. Advance-only tickets for this special FUNdraiser are $40. Guests enjoy a gourmet buffet and have first chance to purchase the fine crafts. Tickets for the Preview Party also include admission Saturday and Sunday.
All weekend artisans exhibit throughout the historic building and the surrounding grounds. Visitors to the family-friendly event can watch live demonstrations of traditional folk life skills, listen to live bluegrass and old-time music, "set a spell" in the storytelling tent, enter a drawing for a the 2016 Mountain Makins Quilt, see more than a dozen dance groups, talk with local authors and let their children paint a pumpkin, ride a pony and more.
All proceeds support historic Rose Center, a museum and cultural center with ongoing art and historical exhibits, classes, concerts and other events and programs, housed in an 1892 Victorian school building. Rose Center is located in Morristown, Tennessee. More information about the festival is available at 423-581-4330, www.RoseCenter.org, or www.facebook.com/mountainmakinsfestival.
