21st Annual Trade Days Festival June 26 to 28

Story by Celeste von Mangan

The annual Trade Days Festival is back for year number 21, on Friday, June 26, Saturday, June 27, and Sunday, June 28. Held in Trade, Tenn., just off of Highway 421, the festival was started in 1989 to develop a community center and park for local residents. Trade Days showcases traditional Appalachian arts and celebrates Appalachian culture. Demonstrations on the grounds include apple butter making, lye soap, tobacco twisting, weaving, quilting and crocheting; in the school and community center building, festival attendees can watch biscuits and cheese being made, and see butter churned the old fashioned way. A blacksmith exhibit will be set up, as well as antique saws and the hit and miss engines will be in operation. Local and Native American crafts will be displayed and offered for sale, and the historic Trade Mill next door to the event, hosts a gift shop featuring Amish made jams, jellies, canned goods, hot sauce, salsa, and old fashioned wooden toys, all produced in the local community.

For entertainment, why not catch the Kountry K-9 Show, returning once again with their troupe of dogs that jump picket fences, barrel down a slide forwards and backwards and walk on their front feet. Lance the Standard poodle is thought to be the only canine in the nation who rides and drives his own three-wheeler. Jim and Pete Arnsburg, originally from Oslo, Norway, own and train the pooches, all of whom were adopted from shelters and rescues. The brothers travel the world with their canine family, performing at amusement parks, fairs, other festivals, on theater stages and at nightclubs throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. Also back for another appearance is the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show and perennial favorites, Donnie Freeman and his Intertribal Pow-Wow, with competition drumming and dancing; dancers are dressed in traditional Native regalia. Performing at Trade Days for the first time, are the Puppetone Rockers, presenting a high energy, fast-paced act. Magic is in the air—check out world renown magician Jimmy Dixon, also new to the festival. As in years past, T.J. the clown will stroll around daily. The various shows perform from 10:00 a.m. until closing, all three days, except for the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show—the group is performing on Saturday and Sunday only.

Proceeds from the festival go towards park improvements and for the community center. As part of the philanthropic efforts of the organization, proceeds also are applied to the Appalachian Service Project, Relay for Life, Christmas Dinner for Seniors in Trade, Scholarship Committee and many other community events.

Tickets cost $8 for adults, $5 for children ages 6 to 12 years, with free admission for children 5 years and under. Friday is Senior Citizen Day—all seniors are admitted for $5. Three-day adult passes are available for $20 and three-day children’s passes for $10. Purchase tickets at the gate.

For more information, call 423-727-5800 or 423-727-3007.

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