Oak Ridge Today

Pumpkin Festival is Saturday in Grove Center

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Pumpkin Fest 2015

By Jim Widener

The 13th Annual Pumpkin Festival in the Historic Grove Center on Halloween will feature live music, family-friendly activities, and food vendors. The Pumpkin Festival is from noon until 6 p.m. Saturday, October 31, at Oak Ridge’s Historic Grove Center. The community is invited to enjoy Halloween with us!

Dress up and get in the spirit. Kids are especially encouraged to enter the costume contest. Our celebrity judges will present prizes for the best costumes. Pets and their people are encouraged to dress in outrageous, fanciful costumes and join in the fun! Pets are allowed to come in on a foot-powered float, like a wagon or decorated bicycle. And don’t forget the pumpkin chunkin’ contest! [Read more…]

Secret City Festival features something for everyone

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Secret City Festival Crowd June 2012

A large crowd waits to hear music during the June 2012 festival.

 

Make plans to attend the 12th Annual Secret City Festival on Friday, June 13, and Saturday, June 14, in historic Oak Ridge. Join more than 20,000 visitors and residents to celebrate the end of World War II and the heritage of Oak Ridge from 1945 to the present.

Here’s an overview of some of the many activities and events taking place at this year’s festival: [Read more…]

Secret City Festival reminds concert attendees of security procedures

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Secret City Festival Logo

Visitors to the Secret City Festival next weekend can expect tighter security measures and maybe a few delays when entering the concerts this year, all in the name of safety.

“In light of recent events, we’re being extra vigilant in our protection of our attendees, staff, and the community during the festival concerts,” said Oak Ridge Police Chief Jim Akagi.

No backpacks or coolers will be allowed into the concert site and all bags will be subject to search.  This includes bags used to store chairs. Visitors should expect delays if carrying in anything that needs to be searched. Organizers suggest festival attendees only bring their concert tickets, money for food, an ID to buy or consume beer, and a chair for the concerts. Once inside the concert site, festival seating is available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The concert site opens at 5:30 p.m. [Read more…]

Secret City Festival: Deadline extended for early bird tickets

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Kix Brooks with Mic

Country artist Kix Brooks performs at the Great Eastern Exposition in West Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 27. (Submitted photos)

It’s not too late to purchase discounted tickets for Secret City Festival

The deadline for early bird tickets to the 12th Annual Secret City Festival’s headline concerts has been extended through Thursday, June 5. This extension will allow the public to continue to purchase tickets to both the Friday night Eddie Money concert or the Saturday night Kix Brooks concert for the discounted rate of $18 each.

Friday night’s concert will feature 80s rocker Eddie Money as he brings his blue-collar rock ‘n’ roll sound to the UCOR concert stage. Opening for Eddie Money will be local band Jada Blade and Dez Money and The Faze. Dez Money is the son of Eddie Money, but he’ll bring his own unique style to the Friday night line-up. Concert goers can expect to hear hits from Eddie Money’s career including “Two Tickets to Paradise,” “Shakin,’” and “Baby Hold On.” Friday night’s concert is sponsored by Pro2Serve, CROET, and Classic Hits 93.1 WNOX.

Saturday night’s concert brings legendary country music artist Kix Brooks, formerly of Brooks and Dunn, to the UCOR stage. As part of one of the biggest duos in country music history, Brooks has received many industry accolades including two Grammy awards, 20 Country Music Association trophies, and 27 Academy of Country Music honors. After Brooks and Dunn announced their retirement, Brooks has enjoyed success on and off the stage as a solo artist, radio host, and actor. Nashville band, Phoenix Drive, will open the show. Saturday’s concert is sponsored by LDA Engineering and 96.7 Merle FM. [Read more…]

Secret City Festival concert tickets on sale today

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Kix Brooks with Mic

Country artist Kix Brooks performs at the Great Eastern Exposition in West Springfield, Mass., on Sept. 27. (Submitted photos)

Eddie Money and Kix Brooks to headline 2014 concerts

It’s Secret City Festival time again in Oak Ridge! The bands have been selected, the schedule is filling up, and tickets to this year’s headliner concerts go on sale today (Tuesday, April 29). Tickets are priced at an early bird rate of $18. After May 30, ticket prices go up to $20. Children 10 and under are free with a paying adult.

Grammy-nominated ’80s rocker Eddie Money will bring his blue-collar brand of rock ‘n’ roll to the concert main stage on Friday, June 13, at 7 p.m. The Friday night concert also features local band Jada Blade.

Legendary country music artist Kix Brooks will bring his high energy, hit-filled show to the main stage Saturday, June 14, at 7 p.m. The Saturday night concert will feature opening band Phoenix Drive. [Read more…]

’80s rocker Eddie Money to play Secret City Festival in June

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Eddie Money

Eddie Money

Eddie Money, a 1980s rock star, will play at the Secret City Festival in June, organizers said Thursday.

Money will be the Friday night headliner. Organizers announced earlier this month that Kix Brooks will headline the Saturday night show.

This year’s festival, the 12th annual celebration, will be June 13-14.

Money’s Top 40 hits include “Take Me Home Tonight,” “Baby Hold On,” and “Two Tickets to Paradise.” He has sold more than 28 million records and plays a “blue-collar brand of rock ‘n’ roll,” a press release said.

The Friday, June 13, show starts at 7 p.m. Local rock band Jada Blade will be the opening act. [Read more…]

Leslie England joins TNBank as assistant VP

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Leslie England

Leslie England

Leslie England has joined TNBank as assistant vice president. Her responsibilities will include current customer development, new business initiatives, and marketing responsibilities, a press release said.

England has 15 years banking experience and a bachelor’s degree from Tusculum College, the release said.

She previously worked for more than a decade for Oak Ridge Utility District, where she was director of customer service and marketing and business development, and she has served on several local association boards.

“I am fortunate to be joining such a respected company that is community-oriented and offers top-quality banking products and services,” England said in the Thursday afternoon press release. [Read more…]

Emory Valley Center fundraiser features rock band Jada Blade

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Jada Blade

Popular local rock band Jada Blade will play at a Friday fundraiser for Emory Valley Center. (Photo courtesy of Jada Blade)

Jada Blade, a popular local band that plays original music and classic rock songs, will help raise money for the Emory Valley Center during a Friday fundraiser at the Grove Theater

The “Rock-A-Moolah” fundraiser starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, at the Historic Grove Theater in Oak Ridge. It’s a benefit for the Emory Valley Center Capital Campaign.

The Emory Valley Center serves 140 mentally, physically, and emotionally disabled (autistic) adults and about 450 developmentally delayed toddlers and children in 13 East Tennessee counties, a press release said. They are losing their home at the former Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center on Emory Valley Road, which has housed their programs for more than 50 years, the release said.

Plans are under way to build a new Center on the opposite side of Emory Valley Road.

“Many of these clients have been at the Emory Valley Center or at Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center most of their lives and are dependent on the Center for their entire support,” the press release said. “It serves the most vulnerable members of society who cannot help themselves.”

Gene Caldwell, co-chair of the Capital Campaign, said the campaign is almost two-thirds of the way to its fundraising goal.

“The area communities of Oak Ridge, Anderson County, and Knox County have given us tremendous support,” Caldwell said. “’Rock-A-Moolah’ will give us new energy to keep us headed to the top. So we want to invite everyone to come support the new Center and have a fabulous night of rock ‘n’ roll with Jada Blade.”

The press release said Jada Blade plays crowd-pleasing rock music ranging from Adele and Lady Gaga to Ozzy Osbourne and Halestorm. The band includes vocalist Leslie England, guitarist Bruce England, drummer Kenny Smith, and bass player Jim Johnston.

Tickets for “Rock-A-Moolah” can be purchased in advance for $20 or at the door for $25. Tickets can be purchased at TNBank in Oak Ridge or online at www.emoryvalleycenter.com.

Doors open at 6 p.m. Friday, and a cash bar will be available throughout the evening.

Jada Blade plays at Lincoln’s tonight

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Rock band Jada Blade will play at Lincoln’s Sports Grille at 8 p.m. today.

Lincoln’s is at 119 South Illinois Avenue.

Jada Blade plays Lincoln’s on Saturday

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Local rock band Jada Blade plays at Lincoln’s Sports Grille in Oak Ridge at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 21.