Secret City Festival offers weekend of fun, entertainment

 

By Explore Oak Ridge

The 14th annual Secret City Festival is Friday and Saturday, and the excitement is building! Kick off your festival fun by bringing your chairs and your family, and stake out a spot in front of the Pavilion Stage. You don’t want to miss the great artists that will be performing all day on Friday and Saturday.

Arrive early to take in the opening ceremonies, then get your Friday festival started with entertainment from ACRODUNK. Showcasing their highflying, gravity defying acrobatics with “slam,” ACRODUNK performs three times on Friday and Saturday.

Jubal hits the Pavilion Stage twice Friday afternoon with their alternative folk music. Combining two voices and a guitar, Jubal creates an intricate and emotional sound.

Get your fill of Scottish bagpipes and drums from the Knoxville Pipes and Drums, who open Saturday morning’s pavilion entertainment.

The Secret City Winds and the Oak Ridge Community Band will be showcasing their talents with an array of musical selections twice on Saturday.

 

Rounding out a great festival of events Saturday afternoon will be the Cas Walker Ciderville Farm and Home Show, featuring bluegrass and country music.

There will be juggling, square dancing, and more both days.

Many exciting events will be happening all over the festival grounds. Various exhibitors and the TN Creates—Juried Crafts Fair are a “don’t miss.” The crafts fair will feature one-of-a-kind items from many of the artists created just for the festival. Don’t miss the Raku pottery firing and other demonstrations happening both days.

Returning again this year is the ORNL Traveling Science Fair. This mobile exhibit gives school age kids the opportunity to experience hands-on learning through interactive displays and to learn about ORNL’s research capabilities.

The Secret City Cruise-In Car Show presented by the Clinton Region Antique Automobile Club of America will be in the AMSE (American Museum of Science and Energy) parking lot located next to the festival grounds.

 

AMSE will also have tours of the ORNL Graphite Reactor and a DOE Facilities Public Bus Tour. Don’t miss the Y-12 National Security Complex tour.

If you ever wanted to see and experience the history of Oak Ridge then come to the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association’s Manhattan Project History exhibit. This historical exhibit features displays that bring Oak Ridge’s history to life and also honors the heroism of our U.S. military.

There will be events geared to children, toddlers, and youth both days, including Dino Dig, Eurobungy, a petting zoo, inflatable games, Stunt-Jumpz, laser tag, water slides, puppets, magic, storytelling, and so much more!

As always, there will be plenty of food/hydration offered from the many food vendors on site from barbecue to ice cream and everything in between.

The World War II re-enactment of the “Battle of Bloody Gulch” sponsored by NSPS will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, so come out early to get a good view of the action! Returning this year will be the only live firing German Flak 88 in the United States along with static display pieces never seen at the festival before.

 

Of course, the Secret City Festival would not be complete without fantastic bands performing in the evenings.

On Friday night is the Charlie Daniels Band with opening act Southern Drawl.

Saturday night features Grand Funk Railroad with Atlanta Rhythm Section kicking off the evening.

Both nights, the gate opens at 5:30 p.m., and bands start rocking at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available for purchase for $25 at the Oak Ridge Civic Center (cash or check only) and at the gate for both nights.

The festival is presented by the City of Oak Ridge and CNS Y-12. Please visit www.secretcityfestival.com for all things “festival,” including a schedule of events, tour restrictions and departure points, concert information, and a festival map.

 

 

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