TN tourism festival round up: Oct. 4-7

Oct. 4-7

Covington, Tenn. – 40th Annual World's Oldest BBQ Cooking Contest – Event includes old-fashioned family fun for all ages. Live music, children's games, demolition derby, truck and tractor pull and various contests are just a sampling of what this festival has to offer! www.covingtontn.com.

Livingston, Tenn. – 27th Annual Rollercoaster Yard Sale – 150 miles of yard sales around Dale Hollow Lake. Sale goes through Clay, Overton, and Pickett counties in Tenn. www.overtonco.com.

Elizabethton, Tenn. – Sycamore Shoals Hosts 18th Annual Quilt Show  –  This four-day exhibition, sponsored by the Sycamore Shoals Stitchers, features a show and demonstrations by local quilters held in the park museum. Bed quilts, wall hangings, holiday and baby quilts, miniatures and antique quilts will be on display. Contact the park for details at 423-543-5808.

Jonesborough, Tenn. – National Storytelling Festival – This festival is considered the most prestigious storytelling festival in the U.S. and the event that sparked the modern-day revival of storytelling in America. The Festival began in 1973 when 60 people came to hear a few tales from the back of a hay wagon pulled up beside the town courthouse. In the decades since, those 60 people have grown to 9,000, and the hay wagon was replaced by large circus-like tents sprinkled throughout the town. Peppered with the flare and fun of blues, poetry, ballads, banjo, and more, the Festival encompasses a wealth of cultures, geography, and styles-a world of stories within one small, historic town. www.storytellingcenter.net.

Oct. 5-6

Manchester, Tenn. – Old Timers Day – Old Timers Day is dedicated to promoting community pride and spirit and showcasing Manchester and Coffee County by celebrating history, traditions, values, and growth, in a safe, wholesome, family-oriented event. Historic Down Town Square, 931-570-0370 www.manchesteroldtimersday.com.

Erwin, Tenn. – Unicoi County Apple Festival – A celebration of the unique heritage, foods, crafts and culture of the southern Appalachian region. Event includes crafts, food vendors, gospel entertainment and more. www.unicoicounty.org.

Tiptonville, Tenn. – Reelfoot Arts and Crafts Festival – With over 300 plus exhibitors and 40,000 expected in attendance, this craft show has been voted the number one in Tennessee. Event is free. www.reelfootartsandcrafts.com.

Etowah, Tenn. – Etowah Arts & Crafts Fall Festival – This two-day event brings the finest craftsmen from the region to the Historic L&N Depot. A large variety of crafts and food is available. A playground is provided for children at no charge. Live entertainment is held throughout the day. For an application, see our website. www.etowahcoc.org/

 Oct. 6

Centerville, Tenn. – The National Banana Pudding Festival – Banana Pudding samples, children's activities, food, fun and more. www.bananapuddingfest.org.

Livingston, Tenn. – Hog-Eye Harvest Day – Come experience the music, crafts, and events on the historic Downtown Livingston Square. www.overtonco.com.

Sparta, Tenn. – Liberty Square Celebration & Lester Flatt Memorial Bluegrass Day – 12th annual event celebrating the history of bluegrass and Lester Flatt in Historic Downtown Sparta. www.sparta-chamber.net

Maynardville, Tenn. – 8th Annual Union County Heritage Festival – Live country, bluegrass and gospel music, arts and crafts, and quilt show. Free Admission. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.unioncountyheritagefestival.com.

Lewisburg, Tenn. – Annual Lions Club Octoberfest – Held on the Lewisburg Square, enjoy pancake breakfast, arts and crafts, music and more. Chalk on the walk.  For more information: www.marshallcountyartguild.com

Campbellsville, Tenn. – Campbellsville Heritage Festival – Since its inception three years ago, the Heritage Festival has attracted several hundred visitors to shop with vendors, learn as craftsmen demonstrate traditional methods, listen to local musicians and vocalists perform and gobble hot barbeque roasted on the spot. Additional information about the festival is available at http://tinyurl.com/caaheritage.

Madison, Tenn. – Madison Music & Folklife Festival – Music and artisan-inspired crafts will set the mood as autumn leaves begin to fall. www.amquistation.org/

Granville, Tenn. – Granville Fall Celebration – Now is a time to enjoy the sights and sounds of fall. Enjoy Jazz, quilt show, storytelling, and tons of food. There will be more than 100 quilts in competition, craft booths, a blacksmith festival, and bluegrass show. www.granvilletn.com

For more information, visit www.tnsoybeanfestival.org. For more information, visit us at tnvacation.com, facebook.com/tnvacation, tnvacation.com/triptales/, or twitter.com/tnvacation/.

WhistlePig + Alfa Romeo F1

SHOREHAM, VT (September 13, 2023) — WhistlePig Whiskey, the leaders in independent craft whiskey, and Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake are waving the checkered flag on a legend-worthy release that’s taking whiskey to G-Force levels. The Limited Edition PiggyBack Legends Series: Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is a high Rye Whiskey selected by the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake drivers, with barrels trialed in their wind tunnel to ensure a thrilling taste in every sip.

The third iteration in WhistlePig’s Single Barrel PiggyBack Legends Series, the Alfa Romeo F1 Team Stake Barrel is bottled at 96.77 proof, a nod to Valtteri Bottas’ racing number, 77, and the precision of racing. Inspired by Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese F1 driver, this Rye Whiskey is finished with lychee and oolong tea. Herbal and floral notes of the oolong tea complement the herbaceous notes of WhistlePig’s signature PiggyBack 100% Rye, rounded out with a juicy tropical fruit finish and a touch of spice.

Keep readingShow less
by Spectrum Medical Care Center

Nurse Practitioner Ari Kravitz

When I started medical transition at 20 years old, it was very difficult to get the care I needed for hormone replacement therapy because there are very few providers trained in starting hormones for trans people, even though it’s very similar to the hormones that we prescribe to women in menopause or cisgender men with low testosterone.

I hope more providers get trained in LGBTQ+ healthcare, so they can support patients along their individual gender journey, and provide the info needed to make informed decisions about their body. I’ve personally seen my trans patients find hope and experience a better quality of life through hormone replacement therapy.

Keep readingShow less

Descanso Resort swimming pool and lounge area

Descanso Resort, Palm Springs' premier destination for gay men, just received Tripadvisor's highest honor, a Travelers' Choice "Best of the Best" award for 2023. Based on guests' reviews and ratings, fewer than 1% of Tripadvisor's 8 million listings around the world receive the coveted "Best of the Best" designation. Descanso ranked 12th in the top 25 small inns and hotels category in the United States. Quite an accomplishment!

Open less than two years, Descanso Resort offers gay men a relaxing and luxurious boutique hotel experience just minutes away from Palm Springs' buzziest restaurants, nightclubs, and shopping. Descanso has quickly established itself as a top destination for sophisticated gay travelers, earning hundreds of 5-star guest reviews and consistently ranking in Trapadvisor's top positions alongside brother properties Santiago Resort and Twin Palms Resort.

Keep readingShow less