Dickson Community

The Main Street Festival is quickly approaching on October 10th.

Last year the event included a Grillin N Greens contest of the best barbque and turnip greens. That event was a huge success and now has its own date. The cook-off will take place the following weekend, October 17th.

You may buy a craft booth for both weekends at a price of $50.00 or a booth for only one weekend at $30.00. The booth space is 10 x 10, and is a empty space. We will also be looking for performers to entertain at the Main Street Festival.

If you are interested in a booth for either event or performing at the Main Street Festival, please call Town Hall @ 615-797-3131.

Amazing is the best description of the Firefly Fine Arts Festival at the Renaissance Center in Dickson. The quality of art, in all its forms, was a delight to the senses!

After bumping through the field parking, I smelled the fresh hay and heard the music from one of the two performance stages. Directed to the gravel path that wound through field and forest , my eyes feasted on the celebration of visual and performing arts. From fire pit art to ballroom dancing, along with various forms of paintings, pottery and sculpting, as well as music and theater, the quality of art was amazing. Colorful stained glass work danced in the sunlight. Sculptures were designed from metals, wood, glass, textiles and clay as well as household items such as paintbrushes and coffee pots. Photos and paintings beckoned for passersby to stop and look again, jewelry was not only functional but artistic All of the art was unique. And the event is FREE!

Meanwhile, children were dancing in the field in front of the WSM stage where Farmer Jason was performing, lending to the true air of an outdoor festival. Demo areas staged instruction and hands-on activities for those of us who have to feel art and participate in its creation.

The gravel path directed me from one artist to the next, many of whom were ready and willing to tell me about their experience at this festival. Most told me that they NEVER enter first time events, but made an exception for this one because of the integrity of its presentation from the start as well as the reputation of the Renaissance Center. Each exhibitor that I spoke with gushed with appreciation about the hospitality from the festival staff ( dinner, happy hour, service with a smile). Great PR for Southern hospitality at its best!

It was exciting to see the familiar faces of local artists like Jeremy Tummins (photography), Kristin Burton-Work (painting) and Rose Littrell( sculpture) from Dickson, Eric Lankford ( sculpture) and David & Susan Allsbrooks (glass) from Burns, as well as Frank Baggett ( painting) from Waverly. Several artists came in from Centerville and Nashville, and I was very energized to speak with artists who came long distances from MO, TX, WI, IL, VA, NC as well as surrounding states to see if Dickson could host a successful festival. It is one thing when an artist enters a festival and can go home to eat and sleep at night, but it is another when the artist has to invest travel, food and hotel expenses to gamble on a new venue.

Did you know that the Firefly (aka lightening bug) is our official state bug? Jeremy Spencer, director of this “cosmopolitan celebration of the… arts” event, said the idea for the title grew out of discussions for a summer art event with the Renaissance Center and the Community Arts Development Board. Experiencing the festival , one would be hard pressed to guess that it was a first time event. Although tents were being moved to shadier sites due to the heat, the atmosphere was not frantic but peaceful and inviting.

Many thanks to Holly and Jeremy Spencer ( of House Blend), the Community of Arts Development and the Renaissance Center for trusting and believing in Dickson enough to carry off such an event . My hope is that it is indeed the FIRST annual Firefly Fine Arts Festival, with many more years to follow! What a blessing to those of us who get to indulge our senses and to those merchants in Dickson who benefit from the patrons who will come from far and wide to experience this event!

NOTE: parking is on East Grab Creek just past the Renaissance Center.

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The Middle Tennessee Fiber Festival was held at the Dickson County Fair Grounds on Friday, May 22 and Saturday, May 23.  It was a celebration of colors and textures.  Vendors from Middle Tennessee and beyond came to demonstrate their talents and to sell their products.  Many classes were offered at the festival including: beginning spinning, felting, yarn painting, beginning knitting and crochet, and green knitting.  It was also possible to observe classes while passing through the three buildings that housed the festival.  One of the most captivating sites was seeing someone spin wool into yarn.  Ms. Caulfield of the Far Out Farm in Cornersville, TN worked on a handmade wheel and compared spinning to music because both require rhythm. Her feet and hands worked in unison to create a fine yarn that she intends to use in a scarf or shawl.

Roving (wool that has been washed and prepared for spinning) was available for purchase as was ready to use yarn, and both were available in many fiber blends and colors.  There were also yarn dyes, needles, books, and accessories such as buttons. Some vendors also had brought garments that had been created with their yarn.  It was also possible to see wool at its earliest stages because there were displays of Angora rabbits, sheep, and rams.  There truly was something for every fiber fan.

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There were plenty of picking parties and playing at the 4th annual Americana Folk Festival (AFF) on November 1, 2008. People brought their dogs, blankets, and a pure passion for roots music. New relationships were formed, old ones rekindled, and most of all, we took a breather to honor the healing power of music and nature. It was a beautiful weekend, and the AFF would like to thank everyone in the Dickson community who supported the event by helping and/or attending.

We applaud the amazing lineup of musicians:

The Alison Brown Quartet Casey Driessen Jars of Clay The Silver Seas Blue Mother Tupelo Derek Webb Sandra McCracken Madi Diaz Gretchen Peters The Old Ceremony Julie Lee Jennifer Niceley Jeff Black Megan McCormick The Early Evening Kingbilly Andrea Zonn The Bittersweets Paul Burch David Berkeley Claire Small The Contrarian Ensemble Robby Hecht Peter Bradley Adams Sonia Leigh Kindling Stone David Dewese Steven Delopoulos Craig Carothers Angus White Eric Wilson & Empty Hearts Kevin Gordon Eric Zarycki & The Persuasion

We would like to extend a very special thank-you to Pat Wright and the entire staff of Montgomery Bell State Park, Eric Lankford, Steve Cordell, Holly and Jeremy Spencer/House Blend Coffeehouse, Tommy Marvin, and The Dickson Herald.

http://www.americanafolkfest.com
http://www.myspace.com/americanafolkfest

The next event is scheduled for the second weekend of October 2009. To stay updated, please consider joining our mailing list by clicking on this link: http://www.americanafolkfest.com/index.php?com=r…

Claylick Fire Department has setup a group page at Dickson Community. You can check it out at here. There’s some pictures and a little bit of information.

The group page will be updated with more information and pictures soon. The fire department will be submitting information and events that they host, including safety courses. It’s a good way to find out what’s going on with them. Claylick Fire Department is even looking into having a list of all their volunteers. What a great way to show some recognition for the men and women that protect their community.

Also, check out their website at www.claylickfire.com. They have more information there, including pictures. They were also kind enough to place a link to Dickson Community.

Claylick Fire Department will also be at the Apple Butter Fall Festival. They will have a booth about fire prevention and safety. Find out more information about the Apple Butter Fall Festival.