Oak Ridge Today

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.

[Read more…]

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…]

Lavender Festival features herbs, crafts, food, music Saturday

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2017 Lavender Festival (Image Credit: Shawn Millsaps)

Tennessee’s only Lavender Festival returns for its 21st year in Historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge on Saturday, June 15. The festival is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“Celebrating all things herbal, crafts, local foods, and more, the Lavender Festival is free to customers, and last year attracted an estimated crowd of 11,000,” a press release said. “In addition to free admission, Lavender Festival also offers plenty of free parking in city and business lots surrounding Jackson Square.”

The festival is full of tradition and fun, and it always features something new, the press release said. For example, a traditional bagpipe player will open the festival at 8 a.m., playing from upper Blankenship Field into Jackson Square. Also keeping with tradition, Alan McBride will follow with the hammered dulcimer in the bandstand, the release said. A complete music schedule is included below.

The highlight of Lavender Festival will be the group of 150 artisan, herb, and floral vendors that will line the covered walkways of Jackson Square, the parking lot, and both sides of Broadway Avenue, which will be closed to traffic.

[Read more…]

ADFAC’s Dine and Donate is Monday

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Razzleberry’s is pictured above. (Submitted photo)

Enjoy fantastic food and support an amazing organization at the same time!

On Monday, June 10, you can beat the heat by staying out of the kitchen while supporting a fantastic organization serving the community, a press release said. Several area restaurants are donating a portion of their sales on Monday to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, or ADFAC.

The featured partner restaurant for June is Razzleberry’s, located in historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge. This fun restaurant has become an important part of the Oak Ridge community, the press release said.

“Come play in the splash pad in Jackson Square, take your picture with the pigs all around the restaurant, and get some fantastic ice cream, too,” the press release said. “It’s a perfect day!” [Read more…]

Secret City Festival is Friday, Saturday

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Secret City Festival (Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge)

The two-day Secret City Festival on Friday and Saturday will feature music, food, history, science, and much more, a press release said.

The festival is hosted by the City of Oak Ridge and presented by Celebrate Oak Ridge. It will be in Alvin K. Bissell Park from 10 a.m. until about 11 p.m. on Friday, June 7, and Saturday, June 8.

The festival showcases Oak Ridge’s unique role in American history and scientific innovation with various events and activities for the entire family to enjoy.

Musical headliners at the concerts will include iconic rock bands Loverboy, performing on Friday, June 7, and 38 Special, performing on Saturday, June 8. Tickets for each concert are available online. The festival is free to attend, but concert-goers must purchase a ticket.

[Read more…]

Boys & Girls Club of Oak Ridge’s annual gala is back in the swing with A Tribute to the 1940s!

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The tradition of the Lawrence A. Hahn Boys & Girls Club of Oak Ridge’s annual gala is back in the swing with A Tribute to the 1940s!

“The Board of Directors is excited to host this elegant dinner dance gala on May 4 at 6 p.m. in Oak Ridge’s historic Jackson Square,” a press release said.

“Let the 1940s flair, décor, and music take you back in time for a magical evening at Oak Ridge’s Historic Jackson Square,” the press release said. “Bear Stephenson will emcee the evening’s festivities, featuring Ensemble Swing Time, a local brass band specializing in ’40s era, and contemporary dance music.”

This premier gala will provide a memorable evening of delectable food, desserts, entertainment, including professional swing dancers, an open bar, and a live and silent auction, the press release said.

[Read more…]

Farmers Market opens Saturday

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Farmers Market
The Oak Ridge Farmers Market opens for the season in Jackson Square at 8 a.m. Saturday, April 13, 2019. It will be open from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays though November, and a Holiday Market is planned for December. (File photo)

The Historic Oak Ridge Farmers Market presented by East Tennessee FARM will open for the 2019 season on Saturday, April 13.

The market will be held 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday through November in Jackson Square. The markets operate rain or shine. A Holiday Market is planned again for December. The previously held Wednesday market in Jackson Square has been discontinued.

FARM is a historical agricultural co-op operating in Oak Ridge since 1976, making it one of the oldest farmers markets in the state of Tennessee, a press release said. Area farmers have been working together to bring locally grown food and other farm products to the Oak Ridge community for 43 years, the release said.

“The Saturday morning market in Jackson Square is a popular gathering place for Oak Ridgers and visitors,” the press release said.

[Read more…]

ADFAC’s Dine & Donate is Monday

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Joey and Steve Sherman at the Mediterranean Delight (Submitted photo)

Joey and Steve Sherman at the Mediterranean Delight (Submitted photo)

 

On Monday, April 8, several area restaurants are donating a portion of their sales to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC).

“Enjoy a fantastic lunch or dinner out, and help a valuable organization at the same time,” a press release said. “It’s a win-win!”

The featured partner restaurant for April is Mediterranean Delight, located at 160 Bus Terminal Rd, #A, in Oak Ridge.

“This little restaurant is one of the Secret City’s best kept secrets!” the press release said. “Fresh treats that you just can’t get anywhere else in town!” [Read more…]

Ulster Project to celebrate peace-building with Mardi Gras event Saturday

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Ulster's Mardi Gras Feb 23 2019

The Ulster Project has been operating in the Oak Ridge and Knoxville area for almost 33 years. You can help them celebrate 33 years of peace-building in Northern Ireland and the United States by joining them for their inaugural Ulster’s Mardi Gras, where they will celebrate the Gulf Coast tradition of Mardi Gras.

The event is scheduled from 6-10:30 p.m. Saturday, February 23, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

The featured band will be a local favorite, The Missing Goats. And they expect to have some zydeco dancing lessons.

The menu will include salad, seafood gumbo, Cajun roasted pork loin and chicken, red beans and rice, Cajun green beans, chicken and sausage jambalaya, king cake (prizes for the baby), and banana pudding. Beer and wine will be available for sale, and there will be a silent auction. [Read more…]