Old Oak Festival returns to Tusculum College April 19-21

The Old Oak Festival is returning to the Tusculum College campus April 19-21.

The arts and music festival will span three days and will feature something for everyone, including music, art, theater and creative writing, as well as gallery and museum exhibits on the campus of Tusculum College.

“Details on the artisans and musicians scheduled to perform and participate are being finalized, but the dates have been confirmed, and many of the arts events are officially on the calendar,” said Susan D. Crum, a 1991 graduate of Tusculum and associate vice president for Institutional Advancement for the college.

In addition to artist vendors and music performances throughout the day on Friday and Saturday, there will be three performances during the festival of “5X10,” presented by Tusculum students under the direction of Wayne Thomas, chair of the Department of Fine Arts and associate professor of English. Show times are Friday and Saturday, April 19 and 20, at 7 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.

“5X10”presents student work in five, 10-minute plays. The shows will be featured in the Behan Arena Theatre in the Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center.

In addition, the college’s Allison Gallery will be open throughout the weekend, featuring top student work in a “best of” show for student painting, sculpture and photography.

The festival is being coordinated by a committee of college and community representatives who are working to bring the historical event back as a major arts and music event in the East Tennessee region.

“We are expecting a wide variety of artists, including painters, craftsmen and sculptors, whose work will be available for purchase. Arts will include pottery, woodcrafts and folk art,” said Crum. In addition, on stage, the festival will present the sounds of the region, with a wide variety of music from bluegrass to jazz to local vocalists and musicians.

Both the President Andrew Johnson Museum and Library and the Doak House Museum will be open to visitors during the festival and will have special activities planned for adults and children.

The festival will also feature children’s activities and storytelling performances. A variety of food vendors will be participating in the festival on Friday and Saturday.

The festival will also feature an outdoor chapel service on Sunday morning outside the Garland Library.

There is no fee to attend the festival. Art vendor hours will be Friday from noon until 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, contact Crum at 423-636-7303.

Service animals are welcome; however, no pets allowed. Coolers and alcohol are also prohibited during the festival.

For updates and more information, visit the website at www.oldoakfestival.org or on Facebook at www.facebook/OldOakFestival.