By Lewis Chapman
The sounds of traditional mountain music will fill the air of Mountain City on Friday, September 4, as Buskin’ On Main kicks off the Long Journey Home heritage music festival weekend. For the past eight years this free event has become a favorite of musicians and traditional music lovers as buskers of several musical genres are positioned along Main Street.
“Buskin’ on Main brings Mountain City alive,” says musician and Johnson County resident Lois Dunn. “It reminds me of the old days in Mountain City, when on Saturday night people were walking up and down Main St. talking and having fun, and cars were cruising around like a merry-go-round.”
Buskin’ on Main begins at 6 p.m. and goes until 8 p.m. with many of the downtown restaurants and businesses staying open late for the event. Along with the buskers there will be food trucks, including Uncle Himm’s Barbeque and Fuego Taquito as well as a special Friday evening edition of the Mountain City TN Cruise-In, a classic car get together group. The Young at Heart Square Dance Club will provide dance demonstrations and give spectators a chance to learn a few steps.
Stop by the Johnson County Center for the Arts’ Gallery on Main and see “Portraits of Home”, the Long Journey Home community art show. Area artists of any medium are invited to create a piece that represents Home to them. If you would like to enter a piece in the “Portraits of Home” show, bring it to the Johnson County Center for the Arts Gallery on Main at 129 W. Main St. before 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 29. All pieces must be family friendly.
If you’re a musician and you or your band would like to participate in Buskin’ on Main, call the Johnson County Center for the Arts Gallery on Main at 423-460-3313 and sign up. Spaces are limited and it is first come first served. Music is to be acoustic and family friendly.
So mark your calendar for Friday, September 4, the start of Labor Day weekend, to visit Main St., Mountain City and enjoy a down-home good time. To see more details on other events associated with the Long Journey Home heritage music festival go to www.longjourneyhome.net.
thejohnsoncountyline 