The 50th Mountain Makins Festival will be celebrated at Rose Center in Downtown Morristown, TN on Saturday, October 24 from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday, October 25 from 11 am to 5 pm. The festival features juried crafts, regional authors, dancers, folklife demonstrations, storytelling, two stages of music, food, children’s activities, and more. To add to the celebration, in honor of our 50th jubilee, admission to the festival will be free.

 

Rose Center staff and volunteers look forward to guests every year enjoying the historic building, which will be in full fall dress. Visitors can see skilled craftsmen at work, enjoy the sounds of Appalachian music, and watch several dance groups perform throughout the weekend.

 

Over forty juried crafters and demonstrators, including several new to the festival, will display their work. The building and grounds will be filled with handmade fiber arts, woodworking and carving, pottery, stained glass, weaving, and much more.

 

New artists include Scarlette and Steve Etter – paintings, Kristen Gay- spicy jams, James Menees- bark baskets, Amanda Sprinkle- basket weaving, Rhonda Van Osdell- purses, Mary Bow- paintings and Diana Davis- woodburning.

 

Returning to Mountain Makins Festival are artists Tammie Hulse- hand painted wood signs & enamelware bird feeders, High End Honey Company – local honey, Karen Lovell- embroidery, Kristine Banas- paintings, Eric Livesay- wood carving, Francis Maynard- oil on wood paintings, Christina Nech- pottery, Brittany Fletcher- crochet, Sharon Merritt- jewelry, Jenny Woodard- soup & dip mix, Hui Malkowski – jewelry, Aurora Bull- paintings, Tatiana Grant- crochet bags, Heather Dalton- crochet, David Gordon- clay planters, Sheryl Tipton- pottery, Carmalitta Barbor- Jewelry, John Mauro – glass, Nancy Patrick- hooked rugs, Stan Taylor- pottery, Vicky Cowen- soap, Sita Loop- paintings, Toni Begley- crochet, Harold Noe- knives, Jim Beelaert- hummingbird homes, Lyndie Trentham- beauty products.

 

Live folklife demonstrators include Jim Claiborn- Davy Crockett, Claire & Dino Dienst- wool spinning and peg loom weaving, Stan Taylor- pottery, Bobby Solis- leatherworking, Laura Whitefield- small loom weaving, and Dorothy McMillian- cornhusk doll making.

 

The music is sponsored by First Horizon Foundation, ORNL Federal Credit Union, and Morristown Parks and Recreation. There will be music all day, both days, on two stages, and visitors will be taken from through a journey of the Appalachian Mountains with performances by; Hamblen County Line, The Stonewalls, The Peaceabilities, Sparky & Rhonda Rucker and more! Full schedules coming soon. Watch our website for updates

 

Storytellers and local authors will be eager to share some tales on both days of the event. The Storytelling tent will feature, Wallace Shealy, Catherine Shealy, Stephen Hollen, Michael Reno Harrell, Libby Street, Jim Priesmeyer, Linn/ JL Stepp, Don Britton, Linda Poland, and Jim Claiborn.

 

The Authors Corner, sponsored by Morristown Utilities, will host Dr. Lin & JL Stepp, Jim Hartsell, D. L. Winchester, Nancy Holder Pressley, Bill Barbor, Cheryl Peyton, and Patty McCloud.

 

The Country Store will be stocked with baked goods donated by local cooks, including many southern favorites, and of course Beans N’ Cornbread. Food Court Vendors will include Mama Lanas, Tennessee Taters, The Tea Tap, Irvey's Ice Cream Co, Po Boys Creole Kitchen, and more!

 

Children’s Activities, sponsored by Hometown Pediatrics, will be available to entertain the younger crowd with paint-a-pumpkin, jewelry making, and plenty of games!

 

The Mountain Makins Festival takes place in and around historic Rose Center, located at 442 W 2nd North Street in Morristown. More information about Rose Center’s programs is available at rosecenter.org or by calling 423-581-4330. Rose Center receives support from the Tennessee Arts Commission and United Way.