Lavender Festival returns to Jackson Square on Saturday

Celebrating all things herbal in Oak Ridge, the Lavender Festival returns to Historic Jackson Square on Saturday. It’s the festival’s 15th year, and it’s scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

The free festival features food and music, and close to 100 vendors. They will have plants and herbs, and products related to gardening, cooking, health, and aromatherapy, in addition to fine art and crafts. There will also be booths for children, with crafts, a dinosaur exhibit, and street performers.

Festival-goers can sample foods made with herbs from 9 to 11 a.m. and watch a grilling-with-herbs demonstration by Market House chefs beginning at 1 p.m. Live music will be performed by local musicians throughout the day. Informative presentations and workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside the CapitalMark Bank and Trust building next to the playhouse.

An herbal luncheon will be offered Friday at noon, the day before the festival. The speaker will be Lauren Smith, of Slow Food of the Tennessee Valley. Reservations are required by Tuesday, June 12, and they are $16, cash or check only. Call (865) 483-0961 to reserve one of 100 limited spots.

Saturday’s presentations are as follows:

• 9 a.m.—Lavender Bath and Body, by Erin’s Meadow Herb Farm

Learn to make de-stressing, relaxing, aromatic lavender body care products with all natural ingredients such as organic lavender flowers and pure organic lavender essential oil. Participants may choose to make a lavender spray mist or a lavender bath salt (or both) to take home. Cost is $10 each. Recipes and all materials included. Pre-registration and payment required. Call (865) 435-1452 to register. Kathy Burke Mihalczo, Owner.

• 10 a.m.—Gardener’s Hand Salve, by Heavenscent

This is an intensely moisturizing hand salve for the gardener who can’t keep gloves on! Participants will learn how to make the salve and will take home a sample as well as the recipe. Cost is $5 each. Pre-registration is required, call (865) 483-3983 to register. Marie Bullock, Owner.

• 11 a.m.—Controlling Weight, Pain and Blood Sugar

Dr. Emily Cleveland-Job, N.D., of Bee Caves Naturopathic Clinic in Austin, Texas, will present an overview of her basic recommendations with a focus on natural and complementary approaches to controlling weight, pain, and blood sugar. Dr. Cleveland-Job will be available afterward for questions and further discussion.

• 1 p.m.—How Do you Want Your Community to Grow?

Sherith Colverson, outreach chairman of Plan East Tennessee, will be presenting. Imagine East Tennessee in 30 years. What will be the condition of our roads, housing, and environment? Will our economy be healthy? Will we be healthy? Is action needed to make certain our children thrive in the communities they inherit? Plan East Tennessee (PlanET) is a regional partnership formed to ask East Tennesseans these questions and develop the tools to ensure that our future reflects our vision and values. Come hear what they are learning. (Give your input in their festival booth.)

• 2-3 p.m.—Children’s Gardening Activity, by The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge

Stop in for a hands-on art activity with a gardening theme.. Each participant will take home artwork and a seed to plant as well as instructions for planting and care. Information about summer programs will also be available. Lorraine Bowen, Education Director.

Elderberry is Herb of the Year, as designated by the International Herb Association. It will be featured in a booth near the fountain. It has been created by Melinda Varboncouer, co-publisher of Natural Awakenings Magazine. Elderberry products will be available from at least one vendor.

The Lavender Festival also features music, and the schedule is as follows:

• 8:30 a.m.—Allen McBride
• 9—Lee Younger
• 10—Liz and Tim
• 11—Early Bird Special
• 12—Might House Band
• 1 p.m.—Four Leaf Peat
• 2—Buck Hoffman Band

Visit www.jacksonsquarelavenderfestival.org for more information.