05/02/2019
Fiddlers & Fiddleheads Festival Drew Thousands of Music Lovers This Past Weekend! Read all about it:
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Unicoi, Tenn. -- The 24th Annual Fiddlers and Fiddleheads Festival, held this past weekend in Unicoi, drew a crowd that reached almost 3,000 during the free, all-day festivities.
Zach McNabb and the Tennessee Esquires garnered the largest audience of the day during their set that included old favorites from Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley and classic country artists. The local favorite, Spivey Mountain Boys, and the ETSU Zion Ramblers, a bluegrass and gospel group, also drew large gatherings. A total of 14 bands performed throughout the day as festival goers relaxed in lawn-chairs and enjoyed a variety of home-cooked food.
In the blacksmith’s shop, the fires were hot and the hammers clanging as visitors learned first-hand how to forge metal into hooks, flowers and other decorative items. Miss Unicoi County and Miss Jr. Teen Southeast Region even joined the fun to show that tiaras won’t keep them from getting t done! Local blacksmith Robin Lynch showed the ladies around the shop and instructed them in forging their own metal rods into usable tools. More demonstrations were held in the Cherokee Village, an area featuring a traditional Native American longhouse, wigwam, and items associated with daily Cherokee life. Festival goers got a glimpse of trade-crafts such as dutch-oven cooking, flintknapping, whittling and yarn-spinning.
Under the warm mid-day sun, more than 60 vintage cars shined as visitors browsed the rows and talked “shop” with classic car owners. The East Tennessee Model A Restorers Club was again on site to add a bit of flavor to the day’s festivities just as they have for years. Ranging from Model-As dating back to the 17-1800s to British automobiles and American muscle cars, there was something on display for everyone’s tastes.
No festival would be complete without food and the Fiddlers and Fiddleheads Festival did not disappoint! The Peacock Cafe and local Ruritan club served home-cooking that would make anyone’s taste buds water. Visitors had their choice of barbecue, chicken salad, hamburgers, hot dogs, fried potatoes and onions, as well as banana pudding and home-baked pies. Attendance was so high that food vendors even finished the day with no leftovers to pack up!
To top off the day, Sammy Fathead, the resident friendly buffalo, was in top form as he showed off for the crowd. He rolled, pranced, and socialized with festival goers and even enjoyed a tasty apple straight from one little boy’s hand.
The Fiddlers and Fiddleheads Festival is a joint effort of the Unicoi Business Alliance and the Town of Unicoi and is held on the last Saturday in April each year at Farmhouse Gallery and Gardens. Special thanks to the local musicians, crafters, blacksmiths and volunteers that make this unique event possible. For more information or to view photos of the festival, visit facebook.com/fiddlersandfiddleheadstn.
If you are interested in becoming a vendor or playing at the festival, contact Trish Bennett at (423) 735-0517 or [email protected]
