The annual Lavender Festival is Saturday in Jackson Square.
It’s the 24th festival and presented by the City of Oak Ridge. It’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the city’s historic center.
“Lavender Festival celebrates good health, local creativity, the environment, and of course, all things lavender!” a press release said. “The highlight of the festival are 150 juried artisan and food vendors, with handmade and locally grown items, everything from pottery and woodworking, iron work, handmade baskets, and more.”
Some of the new artisan vendors this year include Aviary Broom Co., Butter from the Block, Millborne Bakery, Marigold & Marie, and Rising Star Leather. New food vendors include Groovy Grub, Knox Bun, Frog Juice, and Barriga Llena.
Returning favorites include Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm, Gardener’s Wisconsin Cheese, several potters, stained glass artists, and apothecary and culinary herbal vendors.
Four local lavender farms will sell bundles of lavender, and several others sell lavender and other plants. The Oak Ridge Farmers Market is relocated to the Blankenship Field parking lot from 8 a.m. to noon, and vendors will sell locally grown produce and handmade items, as well as cut lavender and other plants.
The main event is free, the press release said, with free parking in city lots surrounding the square. A free shuttle will run every 10 minutes from Roane State Community College at 701 Briarcliff Avenue. There is handicapped parking on Towne Road, the press release said.
For an interactive map and vendor list, visit the website at www.JacksonSquareLavenderFestival.org.
All ages can find something fun at Lavender Festival 2024:
- Free live music in two areas: The big tent in Jackson Square and a smaller tent in front of the United Way Building.
- Learn at Lavender: Informative presentations are located in the lobby of Pinnacle Bank at 231 Jackson Square. They include speakers such as LoCo Lavender Farm on how to grow lavender in East Tennessee (free presentation), Susan Hirsch of Gaia Herbs on gut health and our soil (free presentation), and Chef John Alunni (cooking with herbs demonstration, ticket required). See schedule and details at www.JacksonSquareLavenderFestival.org.
- Free children’s activities: The Art Spot, a children’s train, a smoothie blender bike, The Home Depot building workshop, a Bee Scavenger Hunt, pollinator game, and more. See locations and details on the website.
- A Tennessee Wine Tasting (ticket required): Featuring four local wineries, and samples of more than 20 wines and ciders, benefiting United Way of Anderson County.
- A Tour of Gardens (ticket required): Featuring four local private gardens, open for 10 hours during the weekend, benefitting Master Gardeners of Anderson County and the nutrition projects of nonprofit Grow Oak Ridge.
- Free tours of historic Chapel on the Hill at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 1:30 p.m.: Learn the importance of this chapel during World War II.
A detailed schedule, as well as tickets for paid events, are available at www.JacksonSquareLavenderFestival.org.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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