The Daily Times

This year’s Foothills Fall Festival promises to have the best entertainment lineup ever, Maryville Special Events Coordinator Jane Groff told the Downtown Maryville Association Thursday.

However, not everyone is happy. One merchant voiced disapproval at not being able to take part in front of his downtown business.

Performers this year include Reba McEntire, Sara Evans and Chicago.

The reserved-space tickets sold out in a few hours on the first day tickets went on sale, Groff said.

Thus far, 60 percent of the tickets have been sold and tickets should be sold out in two weeks, she said.

Based on the fact that a lot of tickets are being purchased through Knoxville Ticket Outlets, she thinks much of the audience will be out-of-towners.

Many sales on the city’s website are coming from Reba supporters, she said.

All the volunteer positions for the festival are full. “This is unusual because typically two weeks before the festival we’re still looking for volunteers,” she said.

The arts and crafts area will be limited to West Broadway Avenue from Boyd Thomas Clothiers to Cusick Street. Previously the booths extended down the street to Broadway United Methodist Church.

There will be 83 arts and crafts vendors at the juried show.

Richard Clear, of Clear’s Silat and Street Kung Fu, 113 E. Broadway Ave., expressed frustration that downtown businesses can’t participate in the festival in front of their own businesses without having to pay a $10,000 sponsorship.

He asked how small businesses downtown can be involved in the festival.

Clear said not being able to participate in front of his business is “an example of government overlording over businesses.”

“We looked at this last year,” Association Chairman Terry Gillingham responded. “We can argue this for hours and not resolve anything. Last year very few people were interested, except you. We’re not going to have this discussion.”

He suggested Clear talk to city officials privately. Clear said he tried that last year and was shut out,

“You don’t understand the complexity of this,” Groff said. “Sometimes it does not have to be about a specific business. Sometimes it has to be for the greater good.”

The fall festival will be held Oct. 7-9.

Highland Happenings

Judy Berry Hope, of Maryville College, said that the college is changing the event formerly known as Freshman Move-In Day to Highland Happenings.

It will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 24 on the college campus. She invited local businesses to turn out and meet the new freshmen.

Businesses can hand out literature on their services and provide gifts for give-aways at the event, she said. There will also be a picnic.

Gillingham said the downtown association and Highland Games organizers had met and agreed again to have a concert and parade through downtown as part of the Highland Games.

The events will be advertised through Highland Games promotions, as well as the local association.

‘Boo’ on Broadway

Shaun O’Malley, administrative assistant to the association, said the group is looking at having a Halloween Festival downtown on Oct. 28 featuring the Thriller Dancers.

The dancers have been hired, but he would also like to have downtown merchants providing treats for the kids, face painting, perhaps pumpkin carving and other such activities.

“I would like to turn it into a Zombie Prom with the whole community dressing up as zombies and coming downtown.”

He also favors having a haunted house several days at a structure downtown.

Details are being worked out at this time.

Wine Tasting

Antje Gillingham, chairwoman for the Wine Tasting event, said the plan is to have it from 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Top of the Plaza again.

Tickets will be $30 from Sept. 1 to Oct. 15 and $35 from Oct. 16 to the day of the event.

In addition to food provided, she would also like for someone to discuss the different properties of wine and which foods they accompany.

Foothills Plaza Wine and Spirits will provide the wine.

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