Family fun awaits guests as they enjoy an impressive array of memorable activities that will enrich their lives at Tusculum University‘s annual Old Oak Festival.
One of Tusculum’s 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’s comprehensiveness are a car show, inflatables for children and creative writing readings by Tusculum students.
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 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, and pieces developed by high school students during the Old Oak Workshops held prior to the festival.
“We are thrilled to welcome everyone to Tusculum University for this outstanding and diverse festival,” said Edward Roberts, vice president of institutional advancement. “Spring 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.”
Festival overview
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’s 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.
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 “Newsies” April 20 at 7 p.m. and April 21 at 2 p.m. at The Capitol Theatre in downtown Greeneville. Tusculum’s football team will also have its annual spring game at Pioneer Field on campus at 1 p.m. April 20.
In addition to community members, the festival has become a popular destination for Tusculum alumni, 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.
Sponsors are Eastman Credit Union and Premium Waters. Festival organizers expressed their appreciation to these companies for their support.
“Everyone loves to come to the Old Oak Festival,” said Jolin Hawk, senior director of development and alumni relations, and the festival committee’s chair. “Guests 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.”
Specific details
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.
All activities will take place during the festival hours unless noted. Here are some specific items to know:
· The Old Oak Show and Shine car show will be held from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. April 20 in front of Annie Hogan Byrd Fine Arts Center and Katherine Hall. Depending on the number of entrants, the show could also incorporate the parking lot between those two buildings.
· The creative writing readings will be held at 2 p.m. April 20 in The Pioneer Perk, which is located next to The Tusculum Campus Store inside the commons.
·
The en plein air painting, led by Bledsoe, is occurring in the grass area near the Old Oak Tree at 1 p.m. April 21. The cost is $20 cash, which covers supplies.
· The entertainment schedule is available at .
· Authors’ Row and the Pop-up Art Contest, which is sponsored by the Greeneville Art Council, will be in the Thomas J. Garland Library.
· Kiddie Korner, which includes the inflatables and other children’s items, will take place in the Quad in front of the Scott M. Niswonger Commons.
· The art exhibit of works by Bledsoe is being held in the Clem Allison Art Gallery, which is located inside Annie Hogan Byrd.
“The Old Oak Festival is a collaborative initiative involving numerous individuals from the university and the community,” said Greg Fay, director of continuing education and camps and the festival’s vice chair. “We are grateful to everyone who is ensuring the event’s success. All who are assisting with the festival are focused on providing an inviting and warm environment and are committed to further building our connections with the community. Come join us.”
Additional information about the festival is available at Old Oak Festival. To learn more about the university, please visit www.tusculum.edu.
