- Southern Progressives
- Posts
- Southern Progressives
Southern Progressives
Moving to the left one post at a time
National News
State News:
Local News:
Entertainment options announced as Pumpkintown nears
With less than a week until the festival starts, the entertainment slate for this year’s Pumpkintown has been announced.
The festival is set for Saturday, Oct. 14. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“We’re really excited about this year’s entertainment schedule,” stated festival organizer Meredith Willson. “Having live local entertainment on two stages makes for a great experience.”
Kicking off the Courthouse Steps Stage at 10 a.m. is Armfield Dance Academy. Armfield Dance Academy has been a premiere studio for classical ballet in the region for more than 40 years.
ADA also offers classes in tap, jazz and baton. The studio often presents “The Nutcracker” for the holiday season and this year will produce the ballet version of Cinderella in January 2024.
Dancers will showcase a variety of styles when the studio performs at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Madison Avenue in front of the courthouse steps.
Inspirations Dance & Gymnastic Studios will be performing at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. IDS opened in 2008 and now has two locations in Athens and one studio in Knoxville.
IDS offers classes in ballet, contemporary, hip hop, aerial arts, tumbling and more by instructors who have professional backgrounds in dance and currently perform professionally.
Oneheart Dojo is the third act performing at the courthouse steps during Pumpkintown. Established in 1994, Oneheart Dojo teaches Isshinryu Karate, a very traditional Okinawa style, and
cross-trains in REAL street defense.
Performances at 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. will exhibit how instructors teach discipline, focus, physical fitness and confidence.
The Market Park Pavilion Stage will offer a wide variety of entertainment throughout the festival as well. At 10 a.m. registration opens for the mutt strutt and doggie costume contest, which begins at 10:30 a.m.
The judging for the doggie costume contest will take place at 11 a.m. and winners will be announced at 11:30 a.m.
The first performance at the pavilion is by Pumpkintown fan favorite, Jim Brooks. Brooks is a multitalented musician and storyteller with a degree in Appalachian Folk Studies.
Brooks is set to perform at 10 a.m. and 12:15 p.m.
Ain’t Just Whistlin’ Dixie Jazz Band will perform at 10:30 a.m. and 11:45 a.m. in the pavilion. AJWD is a unique, traditional jazz band located in the hills of Chattanooga.
Their distinctive sound is kindled by the belief that music should be fun and awaken joy in others. With a style of collective improvisation inspired by spirituals, blues, ragtime and traditional jazz, AJWD creates the “happiest music on earth.”
Taking the stage at the pavilion at 1 p.m. is Sugar Lime Blue. Sugar Lime Blue is redefining Americana, drawing from the three main American stylings of jazz, blues and country to create a purely unique sound.
Fans of classic rock, blues and traditional country can all find commonality in Sugar Lime Blue.
Never Too Late Band closes down the pavilion at 3 p.m. The Never Too Late Band is a group of friends celebrating rock music from the 1960s through the 1980s. They are familiar favorites in the local area.
Integrity Sound Solutions is providing sound for both the courthouse steps and the pavilion stage.
Pumpkintown is a free-to-the-public production by Friendly City Festivals made possible by the following sponsors: The City of Athens, McMinn Tourism Board, VEC Customer Shares, Tennessee Overhill, Tennessee Arts Commission, Citizens National Bank of Sevier County, 104.9 The Mountain/3 Rivers Radio Group, The Daily Post-Athenian, WCLE-Mix 104.1 FM, Morning Fax, Athens Kiwanis Club, Simmons Bank, Simmons Wealth Management Group, Starr Regional Medical Center, Mayfield Dairy Farm, DENSO, Dynasty Spas, Humana, Oneheart Dojo, EXIT Milestone Realty, Valley Oil, Warren Jackson CPAs, The Arts Center, Athens Main Street, and Wolfenden Family Pharmacies.
For more information about Pumpkintown, contact Willson at 423887-3544 or by email at meredithw2009@comcast. net The website is: https:// friendlycityfestivals. com/pumpkintown/ and for vendor information, send questions to [email protected]
The Arts:
Reply