The 39th Annual Heritage Days October 12-14

Heritage Days will celebrate its 39th anniversary on October 12, 13, and 14, 2018, in Historic downtown Rogersville, .

Grand Presenters of this year’s celebration include The Town of Rogersville, US Bank, TVA – John Sevier Combine, Ballad Health – Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, The Rogersville Review, Promise Medical Group and the Tennessee Arts Commission. Please stop by the grand presenter booths on Main Street to look at the informational displays and say thanks to these contributors.

This year, Holston Electric Cooperative will sponsor the Art and Photography Show and Hawkins County Gas Utility will sponsor the Quilt Show. The Art and Photography Show offers categories for children, youth and adults. Seven categories of art will be judged, including paintings, drawings, sculpture, needlework, photographs, enhanced photographs, and other three dimensional art. The Art Show will be exhibited in the community room of US Bank on Main Street. The Quilt Show entries will be exhibited in the Hawkins County Courthouse on Main Street.

The First Community Bank Great Chili Cook-off, will be held in conjunction with the Cruise-In on Friday evening. This tasty contest of local cooks and characters will be held in the courtyard of the Hale Springs Inn on Main Street on Friday, October 12. Cooking begins at 3p.m. with judging at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment with a beer garden in the Gazebo beginning at 5p.m.

Entry forms for the Art and Photography Show, Quilt Show and the First Community Bank Great Chili Cook-Off is available at the following locations: RHA Depot Museum, the Hale Springs Inn, U-Save Pharmacy, the Rogersville Hawkins County Chamber of Commerce office, Mountain Star Mall, the Local Artist Gallery, The Rogersville Review, First Community Bank (West Main Street) and online at www.rogersvilleheritage.org.

Registration for the annual children’s costume contest and parade will begin at 4:15 p.m. in the parking lot in front of First Baptist Church; judging will begin at 5p.m., followed by the parade at 5:30 p.m. This year’s theme is Celebrating the People of Our Heritage. The parade is sponsored by US Bank, the Rogersville Hawkins County Chamber of Commerce, and Wal-Mart. For information, contact the Rogersville Hawkins County Chamber of Commerce office at 423-272- 2186.

Other Friday evening events:

The Heritage Days food court on South Depot Street will open at 5p.m. – visit one of the many food booths for great festival foods or local downtown restaurants for dinner until 9p.m.

Rogersville Main Street and Random Rods Car Club will host the final Cruise-In of the season with a parade of over 100 vintage automobiles (pre 1980) from 6-9 p.m. Visit the Rogersville Main Street booth to vote for “People’s Choice,” to be awarded at the close of the evening.

Enjoy the music of Ivy Road at the Main Stage on the Town Square beginning at 6 p.m. The group, self-described as a “whatcha wanna hear,” plays a variety of multigenerational music. There will definitely be something for everyone.

On Saturday, October 13, 2018, the festival’s opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. on the courthouse lawn. Uniformed representatives of the Sons of the American Revolution, accompanied by the Cherokee High School drum line, will conduct a flag ceremony followed by the singing of the National Anthem by the Cherokee High School Chorale and invocation by Sheldon Livesay of One Accord Ministries. The festival opens immediately after the ceremony with hosts of demonstrators highlighting heritage skills in the demonstrator’s yard including a toy maker, whittlers, blacksmiths, needlework demonstrations, basket weaving, an onsite apple butter stir, master gardeners, chair caning, handmade turkey calls, broom making, long hunting demonstration, bee keeping, living history demonstrations and others.

The Davis Grist Mill and Antique Farm Equipment exhibit will be on display on South Depot Street and Artisan Craft Booths will line four blocks of Main and Church Streets. The Young’uns Yard is sponsored by Farm Bureau. It will be located at the corner of Depot Street and Washington Street, across from the Dance Stage and offer old-fashioned games, inflatables, balloon art, and face painting. Hawkins County 4-H and the Heritage Lites will provide and lead these activities. The Heritage Train will be on Depot Street. Older young’uns can enjoy inflatables, an obstacle course and other games next to the dance stage on Washington Street.

The Dance Stage, featuring the award winning Tennessee Hoedowners, will offer non-stop entertainment throughout the festival. It is located on the corner of Washington Street and Depot. The Main Stage, sponsored by Tennessee Arts Commission, Civis Bank, Rural Health and Kingsport Press Credit Union, will host a variety of music from new exciting groups and repeat favorites. Saturday’s music highlights bluegrass, country and pop, while Sunday will showcase gospel music. It is located on Town Square. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the entire day.

The 12th Tennessee Calvary Battalion, B Company, Civil War Reenactment will return to Crockett Springs Park on Saturday only this year. Camp will open at 9:00am and close at 5:00pm. The re-enactors will set up camp authentic to early 1860s. They will present infantry, calvary and skirmish re-enactments. This event is sponsored by J&J Services and Sharp Fence Company.

Visit the food court for a variety of festival food or visit downtown restaurants for your dining pleasure. The beautifully renovated Hale Springs Inn, circa 1824, features McKinney’s Tavern for lunch, dinner or drinks. While visiting, take a tour of the historic inn.

Visit historic downtown Rogersville, Tennessee, for free family entertainment as we celebrate our heritage, October 12, 13, and 14, 2018. There is something for everyone!

The Heritage Days 2018 Schedule is as follows:

Friday, October 12 3 p.m.– 6 p.m. - “The First Community Bank Great Chili Cook-off” Hale Springs Inn Courtyard 4 p.m. -7 p.m. – Mary’s Spirit and Fine Wines moonshine tasting at 212 Washington Street 5 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Live music in the Gazebo at the Hale Springs Inn 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Swift Museum Soul Food Dinner. Reservations required. 423-921-3888 4:15 p.m. - Registration Heritage Day’s Children Parade Theme: “Celebrating the People of Our Heritage” - First Baptist Church parking lot, West Main Street 5:00 p.m. - Costume Judging 5:30 p.m. - Heritage Days Children Parade – Main Street 6 p.m. - Cruise-In on the Square -Cruise through the historic district 6 p.m.-9 p.m. – Ivy Road to perform on The Main Stage beside Hale Spring Inn

Saturday, October 13 9 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. – Civil War Reenactment – Crockett Springs Park 10 a.m. - Opening ceremony - Tennessee Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard, CHS Drum Corps, National Anthem by the CHS Chorale and Invocation by Sheldon Livesay 10 a.m.- 6p.m.- Craft Booths, Food Court, Demonstrators Yard, and Young’uns’ Yard, Quilt Show, Antique Farm Equipment Show, Mixed Media Art Show, Dance Stage, and Music on the Main Stage 12 p.m. –6:00 p.m. – Mary’s Spirit and Fine Wines moonshine tasting at 212 Washington St 12:00 p.m. - Antique Tractor Parade

Sunday, October 14 12:00 p.m.-6 p.m.- Craft Booths, Food Court, Demonstrators Yard, and Young’uns Yard, Quilt Show, Antique Farm Equipment Show, Mixed Media Art Show, Dance Stage, and Music on the Main Stage 12 p.m. –6:00 p.m. – Mary’s Spirit and Fine Wines moonshine tasting at 212 Washington St 2 p.m. - Antique Tractor Parade 2 p.m. – Historical Fashion Show – Hale Springs Inn Courtyard – Sponsored by Hawkins County 4-H Sewing Club