Bluegrass Festival successfully returns to Downtown Green

The Downtown Green by the Farmers Market was full of people enjoying the Morristown Bluegrass Festival on Saturday. The conditions were just right for the bands, vendors and spectators to get a feel for what makes Morristown special — a close knit community that takes big city swings.

“It was absolutely amazing; the weather, the crowd — vendors were happy, kids were happy. It was perfect,” Morristown Parks and Recreation Program Director Jennifer Gentry said. “(Our estimates conclude) we had right at about 1,800 people throughout the whole day.”

People enjoyed the music of Cumberland Station, Admiral Radio and headliner Carson Peters and Iron Mountain.

Animals were out in full force and the dog friendly event saw furry companions enjoying the day with their owners.

The Morristown Hamblen Humane Society was out and had a dog named Velma taken home by a family as they continue to promote adoption and work with the community to raise awareness around their shelter’s needs.

The Hamblen County Substance Abuse Coalition set up several cornhole boards for their first-ever “Pitching for Prevention” tournament.

Gentry said the turnout reflects growing interest in community events and could signal room for additional festivals in the future.

Parks and Recreation has several upcoming events planned, including a “Date Night” event Friday at Fulton Hill Park. The evening will feature food trucks beginning at 6 p.m., a game of Bingo, vendors and a screening of Top Gun: Maverick at dusk.

Looking ahead, the department is preparing for its fall “Arts in the Park” event and exploring a potential “Flavor Fest,” a food truck-focused gathering.

A new event, “Chrome on the Colonnaded,” is scheduled for July 11. The car show will include a variety of vehicles, from lowriders to motorcycles, and is being organized in partnership with Hamblen County Central Services and the Holiday Hope Fund as part of a “Christmas in July” initiative.

Event registration details are expected to be announced on the department’s social media pages.