Oak Ridge Today



 










Taste of Anderson County is Oct. 17

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Lavender Festival features herbs, crafts, food, music Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Fiberology Lab has grand opening today

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Fiberology Lab

A new business in Jackson Square, The Fiberology Lab, has a grand opening today (Saturday, March 30).

The grand opening is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was scheduled at 9 a.m. with the Jackson Square Business Association.

Demonstrative activities will be available throughout the day for all ages, including spinning, sewing, scissor sharping, making a mini project, and more, a press release said.

“The Fiberology Lab is a locally owned business that will cater to all fiber enthusiasts,” the press release said. “There will be yarn and fabric in a variety of colors and textures. The Fiberology Lab will offer classes to learn techniques for all skill levels.” [Read more…]

Manhattan Project: Ranger walk in Jackson Square area on Wednesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Join a National Park Service park ranger for a ranger-led walk in the Jackson Square area on Wednesday.

The Manhattan Project National Historical Park will present this free program at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 3. The program will begin at Jackson Square just outside the Oak Ridge Playhouse. The walk will be about one half mile, so wear comfortable walking shoes, a press release said.

The stops will include the tennis courts, the Guesthouse, and the Chapel on the Hill. There will be stories about the development and significance of each site, the press release said. [Read more…]

Sham-Rock in the Square features music Friday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Sham-Rock in the Square will feature music in Jackson Square from 5-7 p.m. Friday evening, March 15, 2019. The spotlight band is the dynamic duo Ruby and Chloe. They will be in Southern Bliss Boutique. (Submitted photo)

Sham-Rock in the Square will feature music in Jackson Square from 5-7 p.m. Friday evening, March 15, 2019. The spotlight band is the dynamic duo Ruby and Chloe. They will be in Southern Bliss Boutique. (Submitted photo)

 

Sham-Rock in the Square will feature music in Jackson Square on Friday evening.

The spotlight band is the dynamic duo Ruby and Chloe, a press release said.

“Can’t get any better than this—two best friends creating music together!” the press release said.

They will be at Sham-Rock in the Square from 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 15, in Southern Bliss Boutique. Ruby Amanns is currently a student at Pellissippi College, and Chloe Weaver is a senior at L&N Academy, the press release said. [Read more…]

Street Painting Festival at Jackson Square will include Ed Westcott Challenge

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, is fun for artists of all ages. This year’s festival, which raises funds for Roane State Community College scholarships, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13, at historic Jackson Square. (Photo courtesy Roane State Community College)

The annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge, is fun for artists of all ages. This year’s festival, which raises funds for Roane State Community College scholarships, will be held on Saturday, Oct. 13, at historic Jackson Square. (Photo courtesy Roane State Community College)

 

In celebration of Oak Ridge’s 75th anniversary, the 19th annual Oak Ridge Street Painting Festival will have two “firsts.”

The October 13 event will be held in historic Jackson Square, and it will offer the first-ever Ed Westcott Challenge for artists interested in chalking a creative interpretation of a famous photograph by Manhattan Project photographer Ed Westcott.

The festival will, as always, offer prizes for artists in each category. But this year, artists in any category can win an all-ages, all-categories bonus prize as part of the Ed Westcott Challenge, a press release said.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge and a fundraiser for Roane State Community College scholarships, the annual art extravaganza will be held on Saturday, October 13, at historic Jackson Square. Chalking will begin at 8 a.m. Categories are available for all ages, teams, and families. Artist participation is free, the press release said. [Read more…]

Arts festival in Jackson Square on Saturday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mad Hatters Art Festival Through Looking Glass 0718 390x600

The Mad Hatter’s Arts Festival in Jackson Square on Saturday will feature arts and crafts vendors, poetry, music, food, dancers, authors, and interactive arts stations.

The free festival, the first of its kind, is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It’s presented by Through the Looking Glass Antiques and Collectibles in Jackson Square.

A Jabberwocky Poetry Slam is scheduled at Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An open mic will start at 2 p.m. for walk-ins who didn’t sign up for the family-friendly event but want to perform.

Sixteen local songwriters will perform original acoustic music all day, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the square. There will also be musicians playing cover songs at the festival, said Linda Johnston of Through the Looking Glass.

At noon, the Oak Ridge Civic Ballet dancers will perform in the square. [Read more…]

Photos: Lavender Festival 2018

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Lavender Festival is pictured above in Jackson Square on Saturday, June 16, 2018. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

The Lavender Festival is pictured above in Jackson Square on Saturday, June 16, 2018. (Photo by Julio Culiat)

 

Here are photos by Julio Culiat of the Lavender Festival in Jackson Square on Saturday. [Read more…]

Lavender Festival is Saturday in Jackson Square

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Image Credit: Shawn Millsaps

Lavender Festival (Image Credit: Shawn Millsaps)

 

The Lavender Festival in Jackson Square on Saturday will celebrate health, herbs, crafts, local foods—and lavender. There will also be music, children’s activities, and a wine tasting. It’s the 20th year of the festival, which is the only Lavender Festival in Tennessee.

“The Lavender Festival is a perennial crowd favorite, full of tradition, fun, and always something new,” a press release said.

The 20th annual Lavender Festival is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 16, in Historic Jackson Square in Oak Ridge.

The festival, which attracted about 8,000 people last year, is always free, with plenty of free parking available in surrounding city and business lots, and on side streets.

As is tradition, a 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. A complete music schedule is found below.

Informative presentations will be held in the lobby of Pinnacle Financial Partners, and they will include Thyroid Health & Tips for Optimal Brain function (10 a.m.), Home-Crafted Lavender Products (11:30 a.m.), and Turning Back the Bones of Time (1 p.m.).

Also returning for its third year is “A Taste of Tennessee Wines,” from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., benefitting the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Blankenship Field renovations could start in January, be complete by June

Posted at
By 1 Comment

The renovation work at Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium could start in January and be complete by June, officials said Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

The renovation work at Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium could start in January and be complete by June, officials said Thursday, Dec. 14, 2017. (Photo by City of Oak Ridge)

 

The renovation work at Blankenship Field and Jack Armstrong Stadium could start in January and be complete by June, officials said Thursday.

The work will be done with help from a $496,000 state grant and an equal match from the Blankenship Field Revitalization Foundation, the City of Oak Ridge said in a press release.

“The funds, totaling roughly $1 million, will be used to make a number of upgrades to the facility, including, but not limited to: installation of synthetic turf, concrete walkways, synthetic track, new fencing, signage for the Cedar Hill Greenway trail head, and additional restrooms,” the press release said.

The state grant for the Blankenship Field renovations is from the Local Parks and Recreation Fund, and it has been approved by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation.

On December 11, Oak Ridge City Council voted to amend an earlier resolution to include all the enhancements specifically outlined within the grant contract. The expected date for project completion is June 1, 2018, the press release said. [Read more…]

About Us

About Oak Ridge Today
What We Cover

How To

Advertise
Subscribe

Contact Us

Contact Oak Ridge Today