28 years old, and in its prime
Festival on the Square slated to be best yet
MARCUS KEELY Sentinel Writer

Courtesy of Sandy Wright Band "Gnarly FIngers" is playing Sunday, July 15, at the "Festival on the Square" in Hayesville.

Saturday morning, it will have been 28 years ago that the first Festival on the Square took place. A Clay County tradition, the festival has been a summertime staple that residents, visitors, and businesses can't seem to get enough of.

This year's festival, like the past couple of year's, is a weekend event, occurring on Saturday and Sunday starting at 10 a.m. and ending at 5 and 4 p.m. respectively. To kick things off, dancers will convene at the Square for a street dance Friday evening at 7 p.m.

The first Festival on the Square's were not two-day events like they are now. "It used to be a one-day event," Fanny Watson, current director of the Festival notes, "and then it was made a two-day event back over ten years ago." Watson, a hardworking and tireless coordinator of the festivities, has been involved with helping put on the Festival since the early Nineties. The reason for the additional day, Watson says, was because of the amount of work put into setting up the event. Dozens of booths are set up on the Square and large amounts of food are prepared in expectation for the approximately 3000 people who show up each year. "We start meeting in August once we have it in July," Watson is clear to point out, "We try to see what worked and what needs improving and we start there. We try to maybe meet once a month, trying to follow up on that."

The effort is so great that when asked what her favorite part of the Festival is, Waston wasted no time in replying, "when it's set up and over." However, she was quick to counter, stating that she enjoys the street dance, the variety of crafts present at the Festival, and the entertainment. This year's event will feature multiple groups lined up under the direction of Rob Tiger, including: Sam Walker, the Dowden Sisters, Peggy Patrick, Paris Highlanders, the Sweetheart Cloggers, John C. Campbell Folk School Cloggers, the Gnarly Fingers, Butternut Creek and Trees Leave.

Watson and her team of planners put on the Festival "for the entertainment and the visitors here, as well as a fundraiser." The money made from food sales (there is no admission fee) is donated to the local rescue squad, the boy scouts, and is used to keep the Clay County Historical Arts Museum operating. "We put a lot back into the community," Waston acknowledges.

Though it is sure to hold much of the excitement and fun of the past 27 Festival's, this year's event is slated to be the best yet. For one thing, there are more vendors this year than ever before. Seventy five in all have signed up to participate, a sure sign that this year will be like no other. In addition, Watson feels that the entertainment this year has been planned and coordinated exceptionally well by Tiger. "He's got different and very good entertainment throughout the festival."

Vendors and musicians aside, it's the people that make the Festival the great event that it is. All are welcome and encouraged to come enjoy a taste of Clay County this weekend at the best place to do it: the historic and beautiful Hayesville Square. Come out and experience what is sure to be a wonderful memory and a fun time for all.

To comment on this article, e-mail Marcus at keelma6@ wfu.edu.