Fall Antique Festival is back this weekend with some additions
The annual Clinch River Fall Antique Festival will once again take place on Market Street this weekend.
According to Anderson County Chamber of Commerce executive assistant Marsha Stapleton, the biggest change this year is the addition of a beer garden behind Hoskins in the Flat. In order to keep everything family-friendly, there will be barriers around the garden so that no one under 21 can even enter. Police will be checking ID and volunteers trained by ASAP of Anderson County will sell wristbands.
“We want people to be able to taste and savor the craft beers,” Stapleton said.
There will be a three-drink limit, and no beer can be taken out of the beer garden. But, food can be taken in. Clinch River Brewing, the only brewery in the county, will provide the beer.
The beer garden will be open on Friday from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
This is Stapleton’s first year being the lead for the festival.
“I’m excited to see the community response,” she said.
She has been involved for three years.
Another change will be an expansion of the antique car exhibit on Saturday. It will run from Cadence Antiques down to Sam Franklin’s.
The festival will also extend down to Clinch River Mercantile past the railroad tracks.
The food court will be mostly the same as last year and in the same location.
One final change, according to Stapleton, is the addition of some artisan booths. Vendors will have handmade soaps, essential oils, and other handcrafted items for sale.
Around 80 vendors will be selling, and stores will have extended hours on Friday night.
There will also be live music performed by The Real McCoys during the Friday night kickoff.