Several thousand people visit Jackson Square Lavender Festival each year, now in a newly renovated Jackson Square. (Photo by Shawn Millsaps)
The 18th annual Lavender Festival on Saturday, June 18, will celebrate herbs, crafts, food, and music.
It’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 18 in the renovated Jackson Square, which now features a fountain and pleasant sitting area in the center, a press release said.
The festival will celebrate the “Herb of the Year,” Capsicum, or hot peppers.
New this year, “A Taste of Tennessee Wines” brings wine tasting to Lavender Festival, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tasting is hosted by Great Valley Wine Trail, which is made up of five independent wineries in East Tennessee. Many of these Tennessee wines earned silver, gold, and concordance gold medals in the Wines of the South Regional Wine Competition in October 2015 at the University of Tennessee, the press release said. Adults over 21 may purchase a $10 tasting ticket, and will receive a free glass and wine tote, and the opportunity to buy bottles of Tennessee wine and meet the winemakers. Customers may enjoy the wine at seating areas at the festival, with lunch served all day by several food trucks, caterers, and restaurants. A portion of the proceeds of the wine tasting will benefit the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.
The Lavender Festival also features more than 100 artisan vendors, several informative presentations, children’s activities, and live musicians. Vendors will line the covered walkways of Jackson Square, the parking lot, and both sides of Broadway Avenue, which will be closed to traffic.
You’ll want to visit the longtime favorite booths like Jericho Farms, Rainwater Farm, Windshuck, Anything Treen, Sunshine Gardens, Honey Rock and Erin’s Meadow Herb Farms, Harmonic Journey, and Daylillies Fresh Salsa, as well as the more recent additions like Loco Lavender, Mountain Sunflower, TN Naturescapes, Tree & Vine, Turtle Mountain Herb Farm, Custom Copperworks, Dancing Ledge Earthworks, Essential Momentum, and many more, the press release said.
Returning this year for children and the young at heart are Bob Grimac’s Art Spot, Danny Whitson, street performer, sand art by Hip ‘n Happening, airbrush face painting by Angela Carr, and planting and other activities by Montessori School of Oak Ridge and Fox Brothers Ace Hardware, the press release said.
The Oak Ridge Farmers Market is open as usual across from the square, 8 a.m.-noon.
“Bring your cooler so you can shop for the freshest local produce, grass-fed meat, eggs, cheese, and bakery items, and still stay for the festival!” the release said.
The Lavender Festival also features an Herb Luncheon at noon on Friday, June 17. Tickets are $25 and on sale at The Ferrell Shop. The speaker is Pat Stone, editor and publisher of Greenprints, “The Weeder’s Digest,” and co-author of “Chicken Soup for the Gardener’s Soul.”
The “Herb of the Year,” a designation by the International Herb Society, is Capsicum, or hot peppers. There will be a display about this useful herb.
The major sponsors of this year’s festival are the Alexander Guest House Assisted Living Facility, and Cowperwood Company. Luncheon sponsor is Covenant Senior Health. Other sponsors are Doubletree Hotel, Eckert Chiropractic, East Tennessee FARM Markets, and TN Bank.
Admission to the festival is free, with plenty of free parking available in surrounding city and business lots, and on side streets. For a complete list of vendors and more information about the Lavender Festival, please visit www.JacksonSquareLavenderFestival.org.
Presentation Schedule:
- 10 a.m.—Emily Cleveland-Job, of Knox Wellness, Knoxville, Tennessee. Topic: to be announced.
- 11:30 a.m.—Pat Foreman, pharmacist, author of “City Chicks,” co-author of “Chicken Tractor.” Former co-host of the “Chicken Whisperer: Backyard Poultry and Sustainable Lifestyles Talk Show,” in Buena Vista, Virginia. Topic: “Keeping Micro-flocks of Chickens as Garden Helpers, Compost Makers, Bio-recyclers, and Local Food Producers.”
- 1 p.m.—Laura Poland, chef and co-owner of Goodwater Vineyards and Winery in Mosheim, Tennessee. Poland holds a certificate in culinary arts, and has learned many cooking styles from living in Japan and visiting other countries. She offers picnics, catered lunches, and weddings at her family farm and vineyard in Mosheim, Tennessee. She will be doing a cooking demonstration called “Cooking with Tennessee Wine.”
More information will be added as it becomes available.
Fresh lavender is in season and for sale at the Lavender Festival. (Photo by Shawn Millsaps)
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