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Ames Plantation Hosts 15th Annual Heritage Festival
GRAND JUNCTION, Tenn. – On Saturday Oct. 13, the normally serene grounds of the Ames Plantation will transform into a bustling hub of activity, as thousands of visitors flock to the 15th annual Heritage Festival.
More than 150 folk artists, demonstrators, re-enactors and musicians will re-create rural Tennessee from years gone by. Start your day by exploring Ames Plantation’s Heritage Village, an authentic replica of a 19th century rural settlement. There you can see a blacksmith in action, learn how to spin and weave cotton or sample savory foods cooked over an open fire.
Visitors can also view the nationally renowned Stencil House, so named for the elaborate stencil designs that cover the homes walls. Built in the 1830s, this home is believed to contain the oldest surviving displays of stenciling in the South. Learn more about the amazing story behind this restoration project.
From the Heritage Village, it’s a short stroll to a reproduction of a Civil War camp, where visitors can chat with re-enactors in period dress and watch Civil War re-enactments. Just cover your ears for the cannon blasts that happen every half hour!
What your ears will not want to miss is the abundance of good music. Some of the region’s top bluegrass and string band musicians will be performing throughout the day, in addition to a traditional Native American performance. Pull up a hay bale and enjoy the toe tapping melodies.
Don’t forget to take some time to peruse the many unique handmade crafts available from local vendors or look over the large collection of antique tractors and early steam engines. The kids will enjoy hand picking cotton or hand milking a goat.
The Heritage Festival runs from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for children ages 4 – 16, and free for ages 3 and under. Parking is free. Enter Ames Plantation at Buford Ellington Road off Tennessee Highway 18. No pets, please.
For more information regarding Heritage Festival visit the web site http://www.amesplantation.org or call 901-878-1067.
Ames Plantation is privately owned and operated by Successor Trustees of the Hobart Ames Foundation through the Will of the late Julia Colony Ames. The Ames Plantation’s 18,400 acres of land are made available to UT AgResearch as one of 10 Research and Education Centers located across the state. In addition to its agricultural research programs, the UT Institute of Agriculture also provides instruction, research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine and UT Extension offices in every county in the state.
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