Clinch River Antiques Festival continues through Saturday

 

The 14th Annual Clinch River Antiques Festival kicked off on Friday evening, October 10, from 6-9 p.m. in Historic Downtown Clinton with shops open late, food vendors, and live entertainment. It continues through Saturday evening.

Friday entertainment—Live entertainment on Friday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Hoskins Lane Park in Gazebo Park with the unique music of The Walker Boys. The Walker Boys are a gospel and traditional bluegrass band consisting of five brothers and their father. The family has performed for several years at churches, festivals and special events. They live locally in Clinton.

Saturday—The traditional Antique Street Festival kicks off at 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 11, with more than 80 antique/artisan vendors, antique appraisers, food vendors, antique cars, children’s activities, and entertainment. A shuttle will also be available for festival-goers. Look for the Shuttle Stop signs.

Antique appraisers—The Clinton Antique Mall at 317 North Main Street in Clinton will feature national professional antique appraisers Joe Rosson and Rick Crane on Saturday, October 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Both will appraise antiques with charges of $5 per item. They welcome antiques including ceramics, glass, silver, furniture, and more. They do not appraise oriental carpets, weapons and firearms, and fine jewelry. Rosson is an antique consultant and appraiser with over 25 years of experience and is a co-host on the PBS television series “Treasures in Your Attic.” Crane, who founded Estate Sales by Rick Crane, is a nationally recognized consultant in antique glass as well as a specialist in porcelain, glassware, prints, and miscellaneous items.

Antique cars—The Clinton Region of The American Automobile Club of America (AACA) will have a selection of cars on display.  The club has been in existence and active for 30 years.

 

Duel re-enactment—Again this year, history can be found in more than just antiques; history will come to life through a re-enactment of the 1804 duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. Burr, first term vice president under Thomas Jefferson, shot Hamilton, United States Secretary of the Treasury, in a duel fueled by years of animosity between the political rivals and personal enemies. While a duel fought in New Jersey between two national leaders may seem to have little connection to Clinton, Tennessee, festival-goers will learn its’ significance to Clinton’s history as they watch the duel play out and learn how the town of Burrville became today’s Clinton. The re-enactment will take place on Saturday, October 11, and will be held on Market Street at 12:30 p.m.

Kid’s Korner—Young festival-goers can join the fun hosted by First Baptist Church of Clinton. Children’s activities are open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and are free of charge. Activities are open to children up to Grade 6 and require the presence of a parent or guardian.

Saturday entertainment—The Real McCoys, a bluegrass band that grew up playing music together in Lake City will take the stage 10 a.m. Blake and Aaron started “The Real McCoy’s” playing banjo and guitar, and Nick Patterson soon joined as their bass player. Since then, they have played at many local festivals, devoted time to several charities, and won first place in several contests including the Townsend “Young Picker’s Contest.” A regular at the Museum of Appalachia’s Fall Homecoming for the last five years, the band released their first album in 2010 and is currently working on a second album with hopes of including several songs they have written. Their true passion for bluegrass music drives them to make bluegrass appeal to everyone. Their “spin” on the classic “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” has made them favorite locally. Adam Whipple, a solo artist will round out the entertainment beginning at 1 p.m. This independent singer-songwriter from East Tennessee plays a thoughtful, at times progressive style of literate folk that brushes a foot against blues, country, and jazz. A writer’s writer, his work is loved by numerous musicians around the Knoxville area. Plus, he has been one of the go-to utility players for many folks in town, stepping up to the mic with guitars, keys, accordion, mandolin, hammered dulcimer, and penny whistle. He has opened for the likes of Andrew Peterson, Sara Groves, and Bill Wolf. Adam’s personal offerings include his full-length debut “Old Skin Horse” (2008), produced alongside Nathan Head at The Garden in Sevierville, Tennessee, a five-song EP, “Letters from Sinclair’s Eve” (2011), and a three-song EP, “Thrift Store Birds: The Salem Sessions” (2013).

 

The Clinch River Antiques Festival has grown in its reputation among antique dealers and collectors, but it has become so much more than just a well-known antique show. The festival has become a time for the community to gather in celebration of Clinton’s unique character, for old friends to mingle on the streets and welcome another fall to Anderson County.

The festival is presented by the Anderson County Chamber of Commerce and the City of Clinton and is sponsored by Tennova Healthcare and Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. For additional information call the Chamber at 865-457-2559 or visit www.clinchriverfallfestival.com.