Historic Bell Buckle, Tennessee, “where we are 100 years behind the times and proud of it!” is home of the Annual RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival, celebrating one of the finest epicurian combos known to man. The 15th annual event will be held Saturday, June 20th in Bell Buckle, just south of Murfreesboro but a world away from everywhere.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of enjoying RC (Royal Crown) Cola or a Moon Pie (marshmallow, sandwiched between two round cake/cookies, drenched in chocolate)–you gotta try this! There is even a song celebrating the duo:

To see what all the fuss is about, head down to Bell Buckle Saturday where they are kicking off the festivities at 7am with The RC-Moon Pie 10 Mile Run.

For the less sadistic crowd, come about 9 AM to make sure there is plenty of time to take in the whole lineup, which includes an Arts & Crafts Fair and a Food Court featuring among other delicious treats cold RC Colas and “Deep Fried Moon Pies” (and twinkies and snickers).

Other highlights include the RC-Moon Pie Parade, Live Bluegrass and Country Music, Fun Contests (oldest person, youngest person, etc.), “Olympic Games” (Moon pie toss, RC Dash, Moon Pie Hoops, Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest and a Hog Calling Contest) My favorite, Synchronized Wading, will begin at 12:15 pm and the Crowning of the Festival King and Queen will follow at 2:00 pm. Make sure you hang around long enough for a piece of the World’s Largest Moon Pie, served by the King and Queen.

Words truly can’t describe this festival – “You gotta see it to believe it”.

For more info and a schedule, click here.

Better get your facts straight before you go:

RC Cola History
Moon Pie History

Hope to see you there!

Posted by:Dawne Davis

Sunday, May 3 marks the 55th Cosby Ramp Festival, which hails as Tennessee’s Oldest Festival. Nestled in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains (about 3.5 hours from Nashville) is the small town of Cosby, Tennessee (known among my husband’s college buddies as the place you went to buy “Moonshine”).

Cosby is a small town of approximately 7600 where springtime was traditionally heralded with the harvesting of wild leeks known as Ramps. Back in 1954, the first “Ramp Festival” was held to call attention to Cocke County, whose residents thought they had largely been overlooked by tourists to the “Great Smokey Mountain National Park”. The festival was planned as a “gimmick” to draw tourists, and drew a whopping 6000 in attendance its first year!

The Ramp, is a wild plant, which resembles a leek, and has a pungent odor of garlic and onion. Locals who after eating very little “greens” during the long hard winter, would prepare a feast when the green tops sprouted from the earth and the Ramps could be harvested. School children, it is told were actually sent home for a few days because of “ramp odor”.

“Ramp Odor” or not, this is a “not to be missed ” opportunity to enjoy a multitude of dishes prepared with ramps. Traditionally served raw or stewed, the ramp was know for its “spring tonic” medicinal effect “back in the day”. Interestingly, it does have the same cholesterol fighting benefits of its cousin, garlic, and is high in both Vitamins A and C.

The festival promises to be a “hum dinger” as we say, featuring two stages showcasing Bluegrass and Country music, Appalachian crafts, festival food and much more.For directions and more info visit their web site: www.cosbyrampfestival.org

If you make it, try to get a photo with the 2009 Ramp Maid.

Hope to see you there!

Posted By: Dawne Davis

April in Tennessee is about as good as it gets…warm days, cool nights and low humidity! Best of all, it is the unofficial kick-off month for local festivals. No matter how small, just about every town in Tennessee has something to be proud of! And, the fun-loving communities celebrate in a big way with a festival, like South Pittsburg’s National Cornbread Festival.

The 13th annual National Cornbread Festival will be held April 25-26 in South Pittsburg, TN (take I-24 toward Chattanooga - exit 152, you can’t miss it). This tiny little hamlet of 3,000 is nestled in the beautiful Sequatchie Valley and will host over 40,000 red blooded American “corn bread lovers” for what promises to be a great two days.

If you love cornbread, don’t miss the Cook Off (10 finalists from as far away as Utah!) or the Cornbread eating contest. Other fun activities will be Fireworks, a 5 K Run, Blue Grass Music, Quilt Display, Historic Tours, a Classic Car Cruise-In, and Pancake Breakfast.

And, no festival would be complete with out a Beauty Pageant (held Saturday April 18th at the high school if you want to enter) where the winner will be crowned “Miss National Cornbread Festival, 2009”.

Saturday 9-6, Sunday 9-5, $3.00 per person (infants free), and NO PETS!

www.nationalcornbread.com (check out the web site and listen to the official festival song!)

Hope to see you there!

Posted By: Dawne Davis

Dawne Davis
Area Brentwood
Office Phone (615) 370-8669
Mobile (615) 945-7139
Fax (615) 370-8013
Email dawnedavis@realtracs.com
Website www.DawneDavisProperties.blogspot.com
Blog DawneDavisProperties.blogspot.com


Real Estate Profile
Born in Memphis, Tennessee and educated in Virginia, Dawne spent 15 years living and working in the Washington, D.C. area. She and her family returned home to Tennessee, in 2000, settling in rural Rutherford County.
Dawne enjoyed a successful 17 year career in the world of Fundraising, which required passion, confidentiality, drive, attention to detail, superior communication skills and a true talent for relationship building.
Today, she applies her experience and expertise to real estate sales. As a Realtor with Bob Parks Realty, Dawne is committed to delivering a level of service which you expect and deserve from a real estate agent. She is a top-notch professional and an integral part of her community.

Previous experience:
* Officer of the Board and Fundraising Consultant for the John Davis Company.
* Development Director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee
* Freelance Fundraising Executive - Coordinated Presidential fundraising events for US Senate candidates in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, and New York.

Community Leadership:
* Co-Founder and Vice President of the Board (2001-2003) of Montessori School of Franklin
* President, Parent/Teacher Organization (2001-2004) Eagleville School, Eagleville, TN
* Raised over $70,000 to successfully recruit "Kids On Stage" satellite program for Eagleville School
* Junior Achievement Volunteer Teacher, Franklin Road Academy, Nashville
* Supporter of the Make A Wish Foundation
* Supporter of the Monroe Carell, Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt