Experience the Story of Rural Tennessee as Ames Plantation Hosts 20th Annual Heritage Festival

GRAND JUNCTION, Tenn. – Discover what life was like for early Tennessee settlers at the 20th annual Heritage Festival hosted by Ames Plantation and University of Tennessee AgResearch 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 14 at Ames Plantation.

More than 150 historical interpreters, artists and crafters recreate life in the 1800s through music, folk art and special skill demonstrations including brickmaking, tobacco curing, blacksmithing and more.

Many of the historical demonstrations include hands-on activities. Young visitors can enjoy cotton picking, goat milking and creating vintage crafts. The interpreters share stories and answer questions.

Music was an important piece of the region’s history and is a big part of the Heritage Festival. Bands from across the Mid-South perform string band, gospel, and blues music all day on two outdoor stages.

Heritage Festival goers can also shop quality handmade goods created by local folk artists. Soaps, quilts, brooms, jewelry and home décor items are available. Visitors can purchase pumpkins from a local farmer as well.

Most activities take place in Ames’ Heritage Village – a replica of a 19th century settlement that includes several log cabins, a one-room school, and the nationally renowned Stencil House, so named for the elaborate stencil designs that cover the home’s interior walls.

From the village, it’s a short stroll to a reproduction of a Civil War camp, where visitors can watch artillery demonstrations performed by re-enactors in period dress. Other features returning this year include storytelling in the schoolhouse, an archeological demonstration at an antebellum site, horse shoeing, mule logging, woodcarving, Native American culture and historic cemetery interpretation.

Shopping and food vendors will also be on site.

Admission is $5 for adults, $2 for ages 4-16 and free for ages 3 and under.

For more information, visit www.amesplantation.org.

About Ames Plantation

Ames Plantation is privately owned and operated by Successor Trustees of the Hobart Ames Foundation through the Will of the late Julia Colony Ames. The Ames Plantation’s 18,400 acres of land are made available to UT AgResearch as one of the 10 AgResearch and Education Centers located across the state. Ames also partners with other universities and state agencies across the South in an effort to more fully utilize its diverse array of natural and cultural resources. Our cooperative research programs focus on forestry-wildlife interactions as well as forage, beef cattle, plant and soil science and cultural resource issues. Ames Plantation is located just an hour’s drive from Memphis, Jackson and Corinth. Enter at Buford Ellington Road off Tennessee Highway 18.

About University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

Through its mission of research, teaching and extension, the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture touches lives and provides Real. Life. Solutions. www.ag.tennessee.edu

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