Confederate Railroad
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Rhea High School ROTC Color Guard
It’s Strawberry Time in Dayton. The East Tennessee Strawberry Festival will start its 77th year with the theme of Peace, Love and Berries
First started as a one-day festival sponsored by the Dayton City Lion’s Club, the festival had humble and passionate beginnings. Taking its name from Rhea County’s premier crop of the early 20th century, it was not long before it became a county-wide affair. Soon this festival of strawberries, sunshine and square dancing grew to include local attractions, bands, and public figures of all kinds. The Strawberry Parade drew thousands to see the magnificent creations on display.
Linda Blevins, long time staff member and nurse at the Rhea Medical Center, will be this year’s grand marshall of the parade. Mrs. Blevins has worked at Rhea Medical Center for approximately 40 years as an RN supervisor and assistant director of nursing. She is heavily involved in community events and activities serving on the Strawberry Festival Committee, Main Street Dayton, United Way, Rhea American Cancer Society Chapter, to name a few of the many things. In its history, Governor Ned McWherter, actors Sebastian Cabot, professional musicians Tom T. Hall and Marty Stuart, and NASCAR driver Kyle Petty are merely a few of the notable figures to participate as grand marshalls in the Strawberry Parade over the years.
The Tennessee Strawberry Festival has come a long way since 1947, but its roots can be found deep in the heart of Rhea County natives.
On Monday, May 6, Kids Night will be held in the area around the Rhea County Courthouse and Centennial Park. Centennial Park is at 391 Second Ave. in Dayton beside the Historic Rhea County Courthouse. Kids Night is a fun filled, mostly free night for all the children.
The carnival returns this year and will open on Tuesday, May 7, at 6 p.m. The carnival will be available throughout festival week and will be open from 6-11 p.m. Tuesday, May 7, through Saturday, May 11.
Wednesday, May 8, is Faith and Family Night at the Strawberry Festival and will take place at 5 p.m. at Centennial Park across from the courthouse. That night will also feature strawberry shortcake, available at Centennial Park also at 5 p.m.
Food and craft vendors are set to arrive on Thursday, May 9, and the Dayton Arts League will also set up its annual showcase on the first floor of the courthouse that day. The Strawberry Festival Baking Contest will also be held on Thursday, May 9, at 4 p.m. at the Rhea County Welcome Center, located at 107 Main St. in Dayton.
On Friday, May 10, food and craft vendors will be open all day from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on the courthouse lawn. Beginning at 5 p.m., Dayton will be packed with classic cars as the festival’s annual cruise-in is set to take place throughout the downtown area. Beginning at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 10, is live entertainment on the Centennial Park stage throughout the evening until 11 p.m.
Saturday, May 11, is a busy day at the Strawberry Festival with things kicking off early at 7 a.m. with the annual Strawberry Chase and the annual Dayton Rotary Club Pancake Breakfast. The children’s area will be open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m., and various entertainment will be available throughout the day on both the Centennial Park Stage and the Courthouse Stage.
At 1 p.m., the annual Tennessee Strawberry Festival parade will make its way through downtown Dayton along Market Street.
Strawberry Festival festivities officially end with the Rhea County Distinguished Young Woman program on Saturday, May 18, at 7 p.m. in Bryan College’s Rudd Auditorium. At 8 p.m. Confederate Railroad will be at Centennial Park holding a free concert for the public. Founded in 1987, Confederate Railroad (originally known as "Confederate RR") is an American country rock band from Marietta, Georgia, by Danny Shirley (lead vocals) who is from Chattanooga, Michael Lamb (lead guitar), Mark Dufresne (drums), Chris McDaniel (keyboards), Warren "Gates" Nichols (steel guitar), and Wayne Secrest (bass guitar). After serving as a backing band for outlaw country acts David Allan Coe and Johnny Paycheck, the band signed to a recording contract with Atlantic Records, releasing their self-titled debut album that year. In the 1990s, they released four more albums for Atlantic.
American Pride Produce Market in Dayton has plenty of fresh Tennessee Strawberries at their 3333 Rhea County Highway across from Walmart. They are brought in daily, and you can call the store at 428-9002 to see if they still have any in stock.
For more information on the festival, you can go to https://tnstrawberryfestival.com.