Oak Ridge is gearing up for its inaugural Atomic Fall Fest, a two-day community event slated for September 26 and 27 at A.K. Bissell Park, featuring various live music, arts, and family-friendly activities. According to the City of Oak Ridge announcement, the festival will kick off at 3 PM on Friday with an official Opening Ceremony scheduled for 6 PM on the Pavilion Stage. In comparison, the evenings of both days are reserved for concerts starting at 7 PM, showcasing acts like More Cowbell and the Chillbillies on the first day, and Brooke Logan opening for Boys Night Out on the concluding night.
Tickets for these musical performances are up for grabs at a modest price of $10, with sales conducted online at the festival's website. During the day, attendees have a wide variety of attractions to keep them entertained - from the Oak Ridge Art Center displays and the Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association exhibits at the Oak Ridge Conference Center to the nonprofit and City Boards booths at the Civic Center Plaza and over 30 arts and crafts vendors stationed in the Recreation Center Gym, the festival promises an eclectic mix to cater to varied interests.
The Pavilion Area is expected to buzz with activities, as Jon Hetrick, the Atomic Fall Fest Executive Director, elucidated in a statement, per the City of Oak Ridge, “Families will find a full slate of free, kid-friendly attractions throughout the festival grounds." He added, "Children of all ages can enjoy things like bounce houses, crafts, face painting, and splatter painting, while teens and older kids can try the rock-climbing wall, a bungee jump, sports, and more.” Performances, magic shows, Home Depot kids’ projects, offerings from Splatter Oak Ridge, Oak Ridge Animal Shelter presence, and a community arts & crafts tent are also on the agenda.
The Oak Ridge Public Library has slated a sensory safe space provided by Xander’s Place. It will present short films at several points during the day, while food enthusiasts can revel in the presence of local food trucks and a beer variety supplied by Hops and Hounds. Adding to the festive vibe will be the C.W. Farms petting zoo, the Flippenout extreme trampoline shows, traditional delights such as snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn, and a dunking booth for some good-natured fun. The free kids’ areas will be open from 3 to 6 PM on Friday and from 10 am to 6 pm on Saturday.
Car aficionados are in for a treat on Saturday with the Fast N’ Classy’s Atomic Fall Fest Car Show taking place at 148 Badger Avenue from 8 am to 2 pm, where the first 100 vehicles displayed will receive commemorative dash plaques and T-shirts, showcasing a diverse array of classic and custom cars. As the countdown to the festival ticks, enthusiastic Oak Ridge community members and visiting guests are invited to mark their calendars and bring their families for what promises to be a weekend highlighting music, food, and communal spirit at the Atomic Fall Fest, as echoed in the sentiments from the City of Oak Ridge.
