You can learn more about the history of Oak Ridge during World War II during a free national park walk through Jackson Square on Thursday, July 18.
The walk is offered by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park, which includes Oak Ridge.
The program is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. July 18, at the fountain in the main parking lot in Jackson Square.
[Read more…]A historical walk through Jackson Square with the Manhattan Project National Historical Park has been rescheduled to February 10 due to the winter weather in January.
The walk with the National Park Service is titled “Building America’s Secret City: Ranger Walk Through Jackson Square.” It is now scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, February 10.
“Explore what it took to shape the farms and mud of East Tennessee into the Atomic City,” an event notice said.
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The Lavender Festival has expanded. Here is a schedule of musicians and presentations, and information about additional events.
The free festival, the 23rd Jackson Square Lavender Festival, is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 17, in Jackson Square. Since 1999, the Lavender Festival has been held the third week of June, which is when the lavender is in bloom in Tennessee. In addition to several local lavender farms, the festival features 150 artisan and food vendors, live music, informative presentations, and free children’s activities.
For information about vendors, parking, road closures, children’s activities, and more, visit www.JacksonSquareLavenderFestival.org. The festival is “rain or shine,” a press release said.
Here is what is new this year:
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The 23rd Jackson Square Lavender Festival returns to Jackson Square this month. The Main Event is free to the public on Saturday, June 17, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Lavender Festival was named Best Festival last year by the Middle East Tennessee Tourism Council, a press release said. It is presented this year by the City of Oak Ridge, which will have a booth for information about living, working, and playing in Oak Ridge.
Since 1999, Lavender Festival has been held the third week of June, which is when the lavender is in bloom in Tennessee. In addition to several local lavender farms, the festival features 150 artisan and food vendors, live music, informative presentations, and free children’s activities.
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You can learn about Oak Ridge history at Jackson Square on Saturday.
The free program is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Saturday, January 14. It is organized by the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.
“Join a park ranger for a walk through Jackson Square,” the National Park Service said.
The program will begin in the upper parking lot of Jackson Square in front of the fountain.
[Read more…]Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in Jackson Square from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, December 18, and members of the Oak Ridge Choral Society will lead people in Christmas carols at 4 p.m.
The celebration is being sponsored by the merchants of Jackson Square.
“Come join us as we gather around the tree,” a press release said.
“Giving and receiving are an important part of the holiday season and our ‘Lights of Hope Tree Decorating Contest’ is currently going on until December 30,” the press release said. “There are seven trees secured to lamp posts around the Square. Each tree was decorated by a nonprofit in our area. You cast votes by donating dollars. Each vote is worth one dollar.”
[Read more…]Farm Fest in the Square is in Oak Ridge on Saturday.
The festival will be in Jackson Square from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, September 18.
“The event will be a celebration of life down on the farm,” organizers said. “We have a pie bake off, square dancers, animals from Little Ponderosa Zoo, music from Liza Jane and Curly Fiddler, an open bluegrass jam, and vendors! The Oak Ridge Farmers Market will be right across the street, so come get some great eats and learn a bit about the history of farm life.”
[Read more…]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.
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Market-To-Go, a new online farmers’ market in Oak Ridge, is now located in Jackson Square, with weekly curbside pickup at Dean’s Restaurant, across from the in-person farmers’ market. Local grass-fed beef, fresh and local produce, gourmet mushrooms, honey, and even edible pansies are just a few of the products featured in Market-To-Go, a press release said.
“We hope to attract new customers to try and love locally grown foods, people who may not have time to shop at a traditional farmers’ market,†said Rebecca Williams, director of Grow Oak Ridge, the nonprofit organization that produces Market-To-Go.
“Customers can also reserve local products ahead of time, or may enjoy the convenience of seeing all the products laid out in one easy platform,†said Williams. “Plus, Market-To-Go is an important source of income for our local farmers. Our farmers asked us to continue this program for the summer.â€
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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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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…]
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.
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