The Union County Farmers Market is hosting a Giant Pumpkin, Giant Watermelon and Ugliest Vegetable Contests as part of the Heritage Festival on October 4. Pumpkins and watermelons will be weighed on the market scale at 115 Durham Drive from 8 to 9 a.m. on festival morning. The Ugliest Vegetable will be judged on appearance only.
New to this year’s upcoming Union County Heritage Festival is the Cake Baking Contest. The UC FCE Club will coordinate the contest and provide the judges. Participants may enter one cake that is totally homemade in each of three categories: Layered, Sheet and Bundt. A recipe card and a registration form must be submitted with the cake.
Cakes must be delivered to the UC Extension Office at 2721 Maynardville Highway on Thursday, October 2, from 4 to 5 p.m. or on Friday, October 3, from 8 to 11 a.m.
You might become an Olympian at the 21st Union County Heritage Festival on October 4. All ages can compete in the nail driving, so hunt up a piece of 2 x 4 and some 10-penny nails and start swinging that hammer.
Females have a chance to become an Olympian by tossing an iron skillet. So start practicing in the backyard now.
The Heritage Festival Olympics will be held from noon to 2:30 p.m. behind the 4-H cornbread concession stand. Sign up at the Information Booth on festival day.
The Union County Youth Talent Show is an event of the Union County Heritge Festival on Saturday, October 4, 2025. The show is not a contest. There is no entry fee. There are two shows and participants need to choose only one show. Show times are 11 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m. at Woods Music Heritage Theater, 1768 Maynardville Hwy.
To register, visit Woods Music Heritage Theater, 1768 Maynardville Hwy., or download a form at unioncountyheritagefestival.com. Spaces are limited so register soon.
The Union County Heritage Festival Quilt Show is Saturday, October 4, at the Union County Museum. All quilters are invited to bring their quilts to the museum on Thursday, October 2, between 1:30 and 6 p.m. Ellen Perry and Patricia Campbell will be at the museum to accept entries. Quilts will be judged, ribbons placed and displayed for viewing during museum festival hours of 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
A new addition to the 20th Union County Heritage Festival was the Youth Talent Show performed at Woods Heritage Music Theater and hosted by Jim Woods. Four talented musicians entertained and displayed their knowledge of several instruments. Thirteen-year-old Levi Fritts played his own arrangement of John Williams music from a variety of movies. Williams wrote the score for Jaws, Star wars, and Jurassic Park. Levi played a medley of six scores on the keyboard.
The Union County Heritage Festival vendors displayed a multitude of crafts and ingenuity at the event last month.
The Rocky Top Award went to Johnnie B. Blooms for the depiction of the theme “Remembering Grandpa.” The flower business is located on land owned by Mary Flatford's grandfather and she displayed a timeline with pictures of her grandfather showing how the land and her grandfather had changed over time.
The Heritage Festival Art Show provided a gallery of talent at the Historic Snodderly House on Main Street. Renowned artist Betty Bullen hosted the show with volunteers, Brenda Stone, Shirley Keaton, and Nancy Bailey. Mayor Jason Bailey had the honor of awarding the ribbons to the winners at the artist reception prior to the festival. Madeleine Grace, 14, and Carson Hayes, 12, played a variety of melodic tunes as visitors strolled through the gallery.
Wild Blue Yonder band returns to headline the Gospel Tent at the 20th Union County Heritage Festival.
Acoustic mountain gospel, old-time and bluegrass songs in Appalachian style are the heart and soul of Wild Blue Yonder, based in Knoxville. Fiddle, cello, mandolin, banjo, guitar and three-part harmonies combine in a rootsy blend, honoring the rich musical traditions of the Smoky Mountains and beyond.
The Union County Heritage Festival Quilt Show is Saturday October 5, at Union County Museum and will have adult and youth categories for judging.
All quilters are invited to bring your quilts to the museum on Thursday, October 3, between 1:30 and 6 p.m. Ellen Perry and Patricia Campbell will be at the museum to accept entries.