Volunteer organization, Friends of Chehaw, invites guests to join them for a fun weekend of entertainment, food, arts, crafts, demonstrations, and more this Saturday from 9-5 and Sunday 10-4 to benefit Chehaw. Discover uniquely handcrafted treasures from a wide variety of talented artisans and skilled craftsmen while enjoying a comfortable stroll around the Park. Tickets are $5 for adults, free for children under seven, and include admission to the Park and Festival.
 
There will be over 60 artists selling a wide variety of items. All artists have been selected for their talent and provide strictly original and handcrafted items for sale. Many artists come from the local area, but some are traveling as far as from out of state for the Show. Staff and volunteers have been working around the clock to clear the event area from trees blown down from Hurricane Michael.
 
Celebrity blacksmith, Trenton Tye, will also be hosting demonstrations and shows at 10:00, 12:30, 2:00, and 3:30 Saturday and 11:00, 1:00, and 2:30 Sunday. Tye is a 20 year veteran of the blacksmith and demonstration world. He got his first taste of the craft when he was seven years old, watching a blacksmith work in Andersonville, Georgia. Many years later he would come back to the same forge and apprentice to the man he watched all those years ago, one Jay Reakirt. Jay and Trent would travel and demonstrate all across the Southern US until Jay's untimely passing in 2003. Since then, Trent has gone on to keep the forge burning hot by showing at major shows all over the country, teaching the craft, and generally making a spectacle of himself. Trent also has competed on the History Channel series "Forged in Fire" and currently is a host for the Discovery Channel's upcoming crafting competition show.
 
Little Dragon Glassblowing will offer 30 minute one-on-one workshops both days. Each workshop begins with a quick, narrated explanation of the artist’s process. Workshops are $55 per student and will include blown bowl, stemless wine glass, or beer mug. Guests can register for workshops online in advance. No experience is necessary.
 
Mikes Country Store is also sponsoring a chili cook-off to benefit Megan’s House and Easter Seals Saturday, Nov 3 from 11-1. Hurricane Michael interfered with the original plans of a fire fighter’s chili blowout. While first responders are hopefully taking a much needed and well-deserved break, volunteers are still cooking a variety of chili for guests to taste. Chili varieties include Pink Patty, a pork based chili, Hot Meat & Cool Beans, a meat and bean based chili, No Beans About It, a bean free chili, and No Bull, It’s Vegan, a vegan chili. Guests can try them all at no cost and vote for their favorite. Bowls of chili can also be purchased for $3 with the money going to Megan’s House.
 
There are several concerts scheduled throughout the weekend as well. Saturday’s concert schedule includes Risen with the Gospel Mules at 10:00 and John Courson at 12:00. Sunday’s concert schedule features the Evergreen Family Band at 11:00 and Made from Scratch at 2:00.