{"id":24943,"date":"2024-04-04T19:04:05","date_gmt":"2024-04-04T23:04:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/?p=24943"},"modified":"2024-04-04T19:09:30","modified_gmt":"2024-04-04T23:09:30","slug":"great-fun-and-multiple-activities-for-people-of-all-ages-make-the-old-oak-festival-at-tusculum-university-a-cant-miss-event","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www3.tusculum.edu\/news\/news\/2024\/great-fun-and-multiple-activities-for-people-of-all-ages-make-the-old-oak-festival-at-tusculum-university-a-cant-miss-event\/","title":{"rendered":"Great fun and multiple activities for people of all ages make the Old Oak Festival at Tusculum University a can’t-miss event"},"content":{"rendered":"

GREENEVILLE<\/strong> \u2013 Family fun awaits guests as they enjoy an impressive array of memorable activities that will enrich their lives at Tusculum University<\/a>\u2019s annual Old Oak Festival<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"This

This family has a good time at the Old Oak Festival in 2023.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"There

There is a great chance guests at the Old Oak Festival will see Tusculum students volunteering or enjoying activities. Here are students Marc Caceres, Antonio Aparicio and Cristobal Morales, left to right, at the 2023 festival.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Two

Two guests enjoy the Old Oak Festival in 2023.<\/p><\/div>\n

One of Tusculum\u2019s cherished traditions, the festival returns Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21, with something for everyone. The event will include staples such as vendors, food, authors and high-caliber entertainment. Additional touches that will highlight the festival\u2019s comprehensiveness are a car show, inflatables for children and creative writing readings by Tusculum students.<\/p>\n

Art will occupy a prominent place at the festival. For the second straight year, the university will have an en plein air painting event featuring the iconic Old Oak Tree<\/a> on campus. In addition, the popup art competition for Greeneville and Greene County elementary school students showcases their talent. The festival will also contain an exhibit of works by Bill Bledsoe, assistant professor of art and design<\/a>, and pieces developed by high school students during the Old Oak Workshops held prior to the festival.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are thrilled to welcome everyone to Tusculum University for this outstanding and diverse festival,\u201d said Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement<\/a>. \u201cSpring has brought an extra layer of beauty to our historic campus, and the sight of our friends from the community on our campus makes this time of year even more special. We look forward to visiting with our guests but, most importantly, watching them have a great time and return home with smiles on their faces.\u201d<\/p>\n

Festival overview<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Some

Some at the 2023 Old Oak Festival participated in the en plein air painting activity.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Tusculum

Tusculum student Elizabeth Massengill participates in the creative writing readings at the 2023 Old Oak Festival.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Guests

Guests can count on terrific entertainment at the Old Oak Festival.<\/p><\/div>\n

The festival is open to everyone, and admission is free. The festival hours are 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on April 20 and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on April 21. Parking is available in some campus parking lots as well as in front of the university\u2019s costume shop next to TaylorMade Grooming Lounge and at nearby Tusculum Baptist Church and Doak Elementary School. On Sunday, the lot at Tusculum Baptist will not be available until after church services conclude at noon. Shuttle service from some lots on campus will be available.<\/p>\n

Additional activities will take place during the weekend, some during the festival hours and some afterward, that the community can also incorporate in their calendar. Theatre-at-Tusculum will hold performances of the musical \u201cNewsies<\/a>\u201d April 20 at 7 p.m. and April 21 at 2 p.m. at The Capitol Theatre in downtown Greeneville. Tusculum\u2019s football<\/a> team will also have its annual spring game at Pioneer Field on campus at 1 p.m. April 20.<\/p>\n

In addition to community members, the festival has become a popular destination for Tusculum alumni<\/a>, who come back to visit with their classmates and faculty and staff members who have impacted their lives as students and post-graduate professionals. Tusculum faculty, staff and students help run and support the many festival activities as volunteers but also take time to partake in the buoyant atmosphere that permeates the campus.<\/p>\n

Sponsors are Eastman Credit Union and Premium Waters. Festival organizers expressed their appreciation to these companies for their support.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone loves to come to the Old Oak Festival,\u201d said Jolin Hawk, senior director of development and alumni relations, and the festival committee\u2019s chair. \u201cGuests eat tasty food, listen to fantastic music and buy wonderful items, all while spending time with their families and seeing friends and neighbors. People can do so many things that we encourage them to return for more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Specific details<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"These

These two guests love the ambience of the Old Oak Festival, including the food.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Guests

Guests can view wonderful vehicles at the Old Oak Show and Shine car show.<\/p><\/div>\n

\"Inflatables

Inflatables will be one of the ways children have a blast at the Old Oak Festival.<\/p><\/div>\n

As of April 1, about 100 vendors, including artisans, food vendors and authors, had registered to take part in the festival. That number will continue to climb until the festival opens. The festival will be concentrated primarily in the center of campus, but some activities will take place at other locations on the grounds.<\/p>\n

All activities will take place during the festival hours unless noted. Here are some specific items to know:<\/p>\n