Friday, Mar 23, 2007

 

 

STACK CAKES, FRIED PIES FEATURED AT ROCKWOOD’S THUNDER ROAD

 

 

    ROCKWOOD – With the restored 1936 Tennessee Highway Patrol Station standing witness to days past of revenuers and moonshiners, Rockwood celebrates a notorious part of history with their Thunder Road Festival on Saturday, April 21st.  The festivities will begin at noon and feature classic cars, contests, food and bluegrass music. 

 

    A new feature of the annual festival will be a baked goods competition.  Home made cakes, cookies, pies, breads and two very special types of confection are sought.

 

    “We are especially interested in those who can enter stack cakes or fried pies,” said Jo Walters of sponsoring civic organization Rockwood 2000.  “These foods have always been a part of the Appalachian heritage.  People used to dry apples in the back window of a car for use in the preparation of stack cakes.  Others used window screens and left the apples to dry in the sun.  A stack cake is assembled in layers and is usually served around the holidays.  The winner of the stack cake contest will receive a cash prize and be asked to prepare the winning recipe for the 2007 Rockwood Christmas Tour of Homes where it will be the featured dessert.” 

 

    Walters added the winner of the fried pie contest would also be awarded a cash prize.  Ribbons will be awarded for home prepared baked goods in the other categories.  The Rockwood Firemen will serve as the judges of the baked goods. 

 

    Other contests include the kiddy pedal car or tricycle race.  Children aged twelve and under will be supervised as they race around a track with either pedal cars or tricycles.  All vehicles must be self- powered; no machine powered conveyances will be permitted in this contest.  The supervising officer for this race will be Mayberry’s Officer Barney Fife, played by the popular Sammy Sawyer.  Deputy Fife will make a return appearance at the festival this year and Mayberry’s ever-inebriated Otis has learned about Rockwood’s Thunder Road and will be present. 

 

    One additional contest is being held during the festival. 

 

    “We like to think of this as our own ‘Rockwood Idol’ contest,” laughed Erika Schenk, Rockwood 2000 festival chairperson.  “People competing for the best dressed moonshiner/hillbilly or revenuer will get to walk across the stage at Yonder Hollow.  Both winners will be determined by the audience with a $50 cash prize awarded for first place in the adult categories of the competition.  Children can also dress up, but they must be old enough to walk across the stage by themselves to compete.  This will be a fun event and we are anxious to see what people come up with.”  

 

    All contestant hopefuls will be asked to make a $5 donation to help offset the costs of the festival. 

    Aside from the contests, it’s an all day Bluegrass celebration inside Yonder Hollow in conjunction with Thunder Road. The finest Bluegrass and mountain music will be played from noon until 8 pm or later. According to Yonder Hollow owner/manager Betty Barrett, the line-up will feature the following bands:

§       The Red Oak Mountain Boys featuring award winning Alex Leach of WDVX radio with The Smith Brothers and special guests

§       Gene Horner- famous for his custom made fiddles- and the Fiddle Shop Band

§       Tommy "Scruggs" Carter with The Clay Hollow Band

§       Brandywine

§       The Old Timey Back Porch Pickers featuring legendary Fiddlin’ Charlie McCaroll

§       Amanda and the Band

§       The Outlaws clogging.

    During the musical intermissions, visitors can browse through vendor booths and purchase drinks in Mason jars.  In keeping with the heritage theme, another new addition for the 2007 Thunder Road festival is a quilt display. In its truest form however, Thunder Road would not be complete without cars. 

 

    “Thunder Road bootleggers were the first drivers of NASCAR.  There will be a NASCAR vehicle on display, and we have invited owners of classic cars through the Thunder Road era (1920s through 1960s) to bring their cars for display.  The car club with the most entries will be awarded a $250 cash prize.  We have a combination of events that will appeal to just about everyone,” said Schenk.  “Rules, applications and more information can be found on the website at www.rockwood2000.com.  Contest applications will be available at the Rockwood City Hall.”

 

    Schedule of events for the festival:

 

12:00 noon:  Festival opens, Bluegrass/Mountain Music begins at Yonder Hollow

 

1:00 pm:  Pedal Car/Tricycle races for children 12 and under.  Ribbons awarded.

 

2:00 pm—3:00 pm:  Classic Cars check in with viewing from 3 pm - 6 pm

 

3:00 pm:  Our own ROCKWOOD IDOL contest—Best dressed Moonshiner/Hillbilly or Revenuer Contest at Yonder Hollow

 

4:00 pm:  Food judging to include the FRIED PIES/STACK CAKE competition with cash prizes in those two categories.  Judges are the Rockwood Firemen.

 

5:00 pm:  Awards Ceremony for the Classic Car Club with highest attendance and the winners of the food contests

6:00 pm - 8:00 pm:  Bluegrass continues at Yonder Hollow --open mic after 8:00 pm

 

 

Booth spaces are still available for merchants or artists.  Contact Erika Schenk at 865-354-6800 for space reservations.  For information on the bluegrass music of the festival, contact Betty Barrett at 865-250-6717.  The festival is sponsored by civic organization Rockwood 2000 (www.rockwood2000.com) as a way to celebrate history and instill civic pride. 

 

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prepared by Beverly Stroh