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Jimmie Allen to perform at Secret City Festival

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Allen was named New Male Artist of the Year at the 2021 Academy of Country Music Awards

One of country music’s hottest rising stars will perform on the first night of the Secret City Festival in Oak Ridge this fall, a press release said.

Jimmie Allen, who made history as the first black artist to launch a career with two consecutive No. 1 hits on country radio, including his debut single “Best Shot,” and his latest single “Make Me Want To,” was named ACA’s best new male artist of the year in 2021, a press release said.

“We are excited to bring a rising talent to perform in Oak Ridge,” said Naomi Asher, marketing chair of the festival. “Our lineup this year will appeal to a wide array of people and include all the fun activities and vendors that festival-goers have been used to seeing for years.”

The festival is scheduled from September 24-26 at Alvin K. Bissell Park. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the opener taking the stage at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at https://www.secretcityfestival.com.

[Read more…]
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Jackson Square merchants have Papapalooza to honor fathers Saturday

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Jackson Square businesses are having a Papapalooza to honor fathers on Saturday.

Papapalooza is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 19.

“The Square will be hopping,” a press release said.

The United Way of Anderson County will be hosting the first cornhole tournament in the Square. Prizes will be awarded to the winners and “bragging rights secured for the year,” the release said. The tournament will begin at 12 p.m. To register online, visit the following link. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0849A4AD29AAF58-cornhole.

[Read more…]
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ORHS Cheerleading Breakfast Fundraiser is May 1

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The Oak Ridge High School Cheerleaders, coaches, and boosters invite the community to their Burrito Breakfast.

This year’s breakfast will be held from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, May 1, at Gallo Loco.

Tickets are $5 each and available from any cheerleader or at the door. [Read more…]

The Other One Diner moving to Turnpike

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The Other One Diner and Dive is moving from Grove Center to Oak Ridge Turnpike, the restaurant announced Tuesday morning.

Because of the move, the restaurant will be closed for the rest of the week.

When it re-opens, the restaurant will now be located at 1938 Oak Ridge Turnpike in the old Magnolia Tree restaurant.

[Read more…]

No Secret City Festival this year

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There will not be a Secret City Festival this year, organizers said Thursday.

In April, organizers had announced that the festival, which is normally in June, was postponed. But no new date was announced at that time.

On Thursday, the Secret City Festival board of directors said they have explored every option to have the festival in 2020, but “we have determined that we cannot provide the level of excellence this year that we wish to.”

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Lavender Festival postponed to next year

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2017 Lavender Festival (Image Credit: Shawn Millsaps)

The Lavender Festival, one of Oak Ridge’s most popular festivals, has been postponed to 2021 as the city, state, and country try to limit the spread of COVID-19.

“After consulting with Oak Ridge city officials, and in light of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, we regret to announce that Lavender Festival 2020 will be postponed until June 19, 2021,” said Barbara Ferrell, a Jackson Square business owner and Lavender Festival Committee member. “We agree with city officials that Lavender Festival’s crowd and limited area make it an unsafe event as the COVID-19 virus continues to circulate in our community.

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Restaurants changing hours, types of service

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Panera-Aubreys-March-17-2020
The parking lot at Panera Bread and Aubrey’s late in the lunch hour Tuesday, March 17, 2020. (Photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Note: This story was updated at 10:45 a.m. March 20.

Many restaurants in Oak Ridge are changing hours or the types of services they offer to help try to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus.

Explore Oak Ridge, which helps promote tourism, is tracking some of the changes at restaurants and businesses.

Many restaurants are offering carry-out or curbside service or delivery service. Some are still offering dine-in service. Some are closing earlier than normal.

[Read more…]

Experience world cultures at Children’s Museum International Festival

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Folk dancers representing many cultures around the world will be among entertainers at the International Festival on Saturday, February 29, at the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge.

The family-friendly International Festival will present entertainment, crafts, and cuisines from many countries, with musical and dance entertainment on stage throughout the day and crafts for children to make and take home. The festival entertainment will be from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Februar 29 at the Children’s Museum at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge.

Entertainers include the Oak Ridge International Folk Dancers; Spice of India Dancers; Kinetics Wellness Studio, with instructor Katrien Sevrin and students presenting contemporary Egyptian dance; Pasión Flamenca, performing flamenco and Spanish folk dances; the Meriaki Greek Dancers from St. George Greek Orthodox Church; the Tennessee Irish Dancers; Debka and the Oasis Dancers; National Martial Arts, demonstrating martial arts with audience participation; and the Asian Culture Center of Tennessee, along with the University of Tennessee Japanese Program. [Read more…]

Dine and Donate on Monday, Oct. 14, to help local families

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Dean Russell is pictured above with Joe Kenda. (Submitted photo)

 

You can enjoy great food and support an important organization on Monday, October 14. That’s when several area restaurants will donate a portion of their sales to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC, for Dine & Donate.

Participating Dine & Donate restaurants are Dean’s, Gallo Loco, Hoskins, Burchfield’s, Mediterranean Delight, Razzleberry’s, The Soup Kitchen, and Subway locations in Clinton, Oak Ridge (at 1968 Oak Ridge Turnpike), Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top.

October’s featured Dine & Donate supporter is Dean’s Restaurant & Bakery, which is located in Oak Ridge’s historic Jackson Square.

“Dean’s has been a favorite among locals for years,” said Jamie LaRose, ADFAC development director. “However, on October 9, viewers around the world got a little ‘taste’ of the restaurant’s hospitality and menu.” [Read more…]

Sponsored: Tennessee Pirate Fest opens in Harriman next weekend

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Submitted photos (Photos in the story by Carson Hunt or Trent Eades)

Ahoy, Mates! Tennessee Pirate Fest Invites You!

The fourth annual Tennessee Pirate Fest invites you to go back in time to the “Age of Piracy.” This outdoor daytime interactive entertainment-oriented festival will be held the middle two weekends in October at the Tennessee Medieval Faire site in Harriman–just 30 miles west of Turkey Creek. Patrons will be transported to the fictional Caribbean town of Port Royale in the Tortugas, circa 1685.  

“This year, our characters are loosely based on the movies ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ and ‘Captain Blood,'” said Barrie Paulson, Vice President-Manager and Entertainment Director. “Come meet the Governor of Port Royale and his daughter, British red coats, townspeople, and lots of pirates! Come with a happy heart and sense of adventure, and you’ll have lots of fun.”

Rotating on several stages will be numerous professional acts: Caribbean and Celtic music by Tom Mason and the Blue Buccaneers, Thunder and Spice, The CrossJacks, PanEZ Steelband, Black Mash Hollow, and Timothy Russell. There will be portable benches, but patrons are welcome to bring lawn chairs. Performing interactive comedy or dance shows will be The Tortuga Twins (PG), Einstein Simplified, and Misfit Gypsies. Some acts will be different each weekend, and schedules will be available online and at the entrance.

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Taste of Anderson County is Oct. 17

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An aerial view of Taste of Anderson County in Jackson Square. (Submitted photo)

Taste of Anderson County will be in Jackson Square this month. It’s scheduled from 5-10 p.m. Thursday, October 17.

“The annual food festival and fundraiser for United Way of Anderson County is the perfect way to spend a fall evening, with free activities for the kids, live music, alcohol tastings, and of course, tastes from your favorite local restaurants,” a press release said.

Soup Kitchen, Burchfield’s, Sassy Pants, Volunteer Dogs, Murray’s Oak Ridge, Freddy’s, Sicilia Pizza, Aubrey’s, and Panda Express are just a few of the restaurants to choose from, the press release said.

In addition, several local breweries and distilleries will be at the event to provide tastings. Beer tastings will be provided by Fanatic Brewing; Seven Springs Farm will be offering wine tastings; Sugarlands Distilling Company will have moonshine to sample; and Postmodern Spirits will be providing tastes of some of their vodkas, gins, and whiskeys. [Read more…]

ADFAC Dine and Donate, plus Photo Contest, on Monday

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Enjoy fantastic food, support an important nonprofit organization, and qualify for a $25 gift card—all at the same time—on Monday, August 12.

Several area restaurants are donating a portion of their sales to Aid To Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC. Participating restaurants are Dean’s, Gallo Loco, Hoskins, Burchfield’s, Mediterranean Delight, Razzleberry’s, The Soup Kitchen, and Subway locations in Clinton, Oak Ridge (1968 Oak Ridge Turnpike), Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top, a press release said.

This month, in addition to enjoying a great meal and helping ADFAC at the same time, there’s an added bonus of a Photo Contest. ADFAC needs fresh, new photos to publicize its monthly Dine & Donate event, the press release said.

“You can help—and maybe even win!” the press release said.

Here’s how: [Read more…]

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