A vendor sells herbs at the Lavender Festival. (Photo submitted by Charlie Samuels)
Oak Ridge’s Historic Jackson Square will host the 14th Annual Lavender Festival on Saturday, June 16, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The festival will feature information and products related to gardening, cooking, health, and aromatherapy. There will be plants and herbs for sale as well as arts and crafts. Children’s activities will include blow painting, seed planting, a sachet workshop, and more.
Festival-goers can try foods made with herbs from 9 to 11 a.m. and watch demonstrations on grilling with herbs by local chefs from 1 to 3 p.m.
Hourly presentations will be in the lobby of the Oak Ridge Community Playhouse beginning at 9 a.m. and will include Kathy Mihalczo of Erin’s Meadow, Marie Bullock of Heaven Scent and Anne Freels, author of “Making Colorful Corn Shuck Dolls.” All presentations are free.
The Lavender Festival hosts local musicians throughout the day. Allen McBride, Liz and Tim, Frost Bottom Boys, and others will perform.
Lavender bunches. (Photo by Charlie Samuels)
An Herb Luncheon will be held on Friday, June 15, and will feature music, an herbal lunch, and guest speaker Emily Cleveland, who has been one of the educational presenters at the festival for the past two years. Cleveland will talk about how to make small adjustments to your meals to create big changes in your health. Her presentation, “Prescription for health: Relax it’s only food!” will be $15. For reservations, call (865) 483-0961 by Wednesday, June 13.
Rose, the “Herb of the Year,” will be featured in a booth in front of the fountain.
The Lavender Festival  is always scheduled for the third weekend in June because that is the peak season for the herb it celebrates.
For more information, visit the Lavender Festival website at www.jacksonsquarelavenderfestival.org.
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