Clubhouse booth to open first weekend in October
The Cherry Log Festival, a longtime fall tradition in Gilmer County, will not take place this year, but one of its most popular attractions, a homemade canned goods booth, will be open for business Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3-4, confirmed the Cherry Log Community Action Group, which presents and sponsors the festival each year.
“We will be set up to sell canned goods at the clubhouse the first weekend in October, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., and that is all. It will be kind of a curbside thing. The canning booth will be open, but there will be people outside that will take your order too,” said Dale Alsobrook, the community action group’s president.
Alsobrook noted that this will be the 49th year for the festival, which is usually held the first two weekends in October.
“We were sad because we’d started canning this summer and doing everything in plans of having it. We usually sell food, which is a big part of our fundraiser. We didn’t see any way we could do that safely because the clubhouse is only so big,” she added.
“At one point, we decided to just have the outside festival, but then we had a board meeting and decided that, since the Apple Festival was not (being held this year), we shouldn’t do it either.”
The event, which normally features arts and crafts vendors, live bluegrass and gospel music and a variety of home cooking for breakfast and lunch, has long been an annual fundraiser for the community outreach group, which uses event proceeds to assist Cherry Log residents.
“We’re taking it pretty hard to the pocketbook, but we have safeguarded some money to continue what we do. We will be donating to the food bank and helping needy families until the money runs out,” Alsobrook confirmed.
“We’re talking about doing some kind of festival in the spring if things open up,” she added.
The canned food sold at the festival is made by members of the community group and ingredients from local gardens are used.
“We’ve opened up for early sales and have already sold some, but we still have plenty,” said Alsobrook. “We have pickled beets, sauerkraut, chow-chow, assorted jellies and jams, pickles and green beans. We’re not doing pickled corn because the corn crops weren’t wonderful this year and we’re not doing pickled beans. We are doing one run of Brunswick stew.”
Club members who will be selling the canned goods are asking customers to practice social distancing and wear protective face masks, Alsobrook confirmed.
“Most of our volunteers are elderly. We will all be wearing masks,” she added.
The Cherry Log Community Clubhouse is located just off Highway 515 at 341 Cherry Log Street.
Alsobrook said she can be contacted at 706-273-1023 with questions.