Published: September 16, 2009 07:30 pm      

Weekend full with arts festival, Battle of Tunnel Hill re-enactment

Come to Dalton for the Creative Arts Guild festival and make a side trip to Tunnel Hill to see the re-enactment of the Battle of Tunnel Hill. Or come to the re-enactment and drive down to the festival.

That’s what local tourism officials hope visitors will do this weekend, when both events will be held. It’s the first time anyone can recall the two events on the same weekend.

“It’s a positive, and to attract visitors into town in the future, we are looking at doing some cross promotions, so that you don’t just have one event, you have several that might bring in different crowds and get a real sense of energy and vitality,” said Melanie Suggs, interim executive director of the Dalton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The re-enactment is typically held the first weekend after Labor Day. But the Tunnel Hill Historical Foundation, which sponsors the event, delayed it for a week this year.

“We were asked by our re-enactors to change the weekend because of a large national event in Atlanta that conflicted with our regular weekend,” said foundation president Janet Cochran. “We struggled with the idea, but we changed it. We probably won’t do that again. We’ll just have to make other arrangements if something like this happens again.”

Cochran said she expects to have about 500 re-enactors take part. The Tunnel Hill re-enactment is popular among participants because it is one of the few that can be done on the site of the actual battle they are recreating.

Terry Tomasello, executive director of the Creative Arts Guild, said she hopes having the two events the same weekend will be positive.

“Typically, events like this can feed off of each other. We really are doing something very different from what they do,” she said. “But hopefully, some of the folks who enjoy the re-enactment may wander over here, or maybe they’ll do one one day and one the next.”

Tomasello said she expects 3,000 to 5,000 to attend the festival, but the weather may affect those numbers.

In addition to the normal arts, crafts and jewelry on sale and for display, the festival will feature a local authors showcase this year for the first time. And Tomasello says the festival has invited vendors from the Downtown Dalton market.

Dalton artist Jody Harris will be one of the artists displaying his work at the festival. It will be the first year he has displayed his work, but the guild hosted a large exhibition of his paintings in August.

“At this festival, everybody does something different. That’s what makes it so great. In talking to other artists, that’s what draws them,” he said.

In addition to displaying his completed work, Harris will be painting a piece inspired by the festival while it is going on.



What: The Battle of Tunnel Hill re-enactment

When: Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The battle begins at 2 p.m. each day.

Where: Near the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center, 215 Clisby Austin Road

Admission: Each day is $5 for adults, $3 for children ages 3 to 12, and free for children under 3.

Directions: From I-75 North (coming from Atlanta), take Exit 336, Dalton/Rocky Face, Highway 41. Travel north on Highway 41 for 4.5 miles. Just inside the Tunnel Hill city limits, turn right onto Oak Street, just before crossing the bridge over the railroad tracks. Travel one-fourth of a mile, continue straight at the curve, the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center is on the left. From I-75 South (coming from Chattanooga), take Exit 345, Tunnel Hill/Ringgold, Highway 41. Travel south on Highway 41 for four miles into the city of Tunnel Hill. Upon crossing the bridge over the railroad tracks, get in the left turn lane. Turn left onto Oak Street. Travel one-fourth of a mile, continue straight at the curve, the Tunnel Hill Heritage Center is on the left.

More info: Call (706) 876-1571 or visit www.tunnelhillheritagecenter.com.



What: The Creative Arts Guild Festival

When: Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Where: The Creative Arts Guild, 530 W. Waugh St., in Dalton

Admission: Free

More info: Call (706) 278-0168 or visit www.creativeartsguild.org.