You may have heard it said, “Laughter is good for the soul,” which I believe is true. I want to add an element to that: So is fun art.

There is something soothing when you color or paint, especially when it’s just for fun. I think our brain needs time to unwind and relax. The colors trigger memories and moods, the movement releases the stress we hold on to. If we take the time to gather with friends and create, it’s about the experience. So have a good time. The thing with fun art is it’s not meant to be a masterpiece, it’s playful and should make you smile. Just add color, add diminish, try textures, it’s not finished until you say it is.

Were you there last year? If so, you sure don’t want to miss this year!! Did you miss it last year?? Don’t make that mistake again this year! Last year was fantastic. A resounding success for the first year of any festival. But THIS year’s Sharps Chapel Fall Festival has been in the planning process for a year. A whole year! And it will be bigger and it will be even better than last year.

Not only is Union County known for its country music legends, but also for having a stretch of the famous Thunder Road. Thunder Road was definitely on Faye Hardin's mind when she created the painting that won Best Heritage in the 2022 Union County Heritage Festival Art Show. This was Faye's second year to receive the Best Heritage Award.

The Union County Heritage Festival Art Show will take place during the October 1 event at the Myers Building (formerly Byrd Funeral Home) at 502 Monroe Street in Maynardville. Parking will be available at the lot across from the art show or at the courthouse. On festival day, parking is also available at Wilson Park where visitors can ride the big yellow bus free shuttle sponsored by State Farm Insurance and Plainview City to the art show.

Union County Retired Teachers Association provided corn crafts for children to make at the recent Youth & Corn Festival. At least 25 children custom painted corn refrigerator magnets. Another 16 strung beads on chenille sticks and shaped key chains that resembled Indian corn. Between craft projects a teacher read stories with corn themes that covered the uses and history of corn.
One young girl read the book to the teacher. Many of the participants wanted to craft as a family. All seemed to have a really fun time and many mentioned that they would be returning next year.

Union County Heritage Festival Art Show and Contest will occur on Saturday, October 2, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Historic Snodderly House, 720 Main St., Maynardville.
Cash awards and ribbons will be given for Best Heritage, Best of Show, 1st, 2nd, 3rd place in two- and three-dimensional works and photography. Ribbons will be given to Honorable Mentions.

You don’t see ceramic shops around much anymore. When I say ceramics, I am talking about the kind that comes out of molds as opposed to that which people form with their hands and/or on a potter’s wheel (that is usually referred to as pottery.) I have done both, but I grew up painting ceramics with my mother because in those days there were ceramic shops on the Army bases we lived on.

The Union County Heritage Festival Fine Arts Show has added a category for photographic entries, and the UCHF Student Art Show will accept photographs.
Participants will be able to enter an original photograph pertaining to the Union County area or best exemplifying the festival theme: ”More Fiddlin' Around."
The show is a juried mixed-media exhibition open to artists 18 years of age and above and is held at the Snodderly House on Main Street in Maynardville.

The 4th Annual Thunder in the Park, free professional fireworks show will light up the night sky in Maynardville, Tennessee, on Saturday evening, August 31, 2019. The gates open at 5:00pm, so be there with the family and some lawn chairs at Wilson Park to witness the county’s signature event. Last year’s nearly 8,000 attendees can share that the event was a spectacular light show with an array of family friendly activities available in addition.

Summer is in full swing at the Union County Farmers Market. The market is located in Wilson Park and open on Saturdays from 10am – 1pm. Our new Saturday hours allow our farmers to harvest early on Saturday morning bringing you the freshest possible produce. We hope the later hours will also encourage you to take advantage of the food trucks that are joining us! Enjoy a snack, breakfast or lunch.