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Rome’s biggest fall event goes on despite unfavorable weather during its annual fall art festival. The following article highlights what was at the festival including food, entertainment and art.

By: JP Popham

ROME, Ga.- Rome’s biggest Fall event the Chiaha Festival hit a snag this weekend as rain and cold weather kept many locals away from the annual festival.

   The annual fall crafts festival that usually draws thousands to Ridge Ferry Park brought only a fraction of previous year’s numbers as visitors slogged through the cold muddy grounds of the festival. Several vehicles had to be pulled out of the parking lot due to the muddy conditions.

   The festival is set up every year to support the arts and arts education in the Rome Floyd County community according to the Chiaha Festival’s website.  The festival welcomes artists and craftsman of all shapes and sizes and gives them the opportunity to show case and sell their work.

   For those who those who were unable to make it here is a run-down of this weekend’s festival.

Arts & Crafts

   There were well over 100 vendors at the festival selling their homemade and handmade crafts. Some of the crafts were simple, like hand-made jewelry or bird houses. Others were more intricate like handmade pottery made on the spot or blown glass. There was also a tent for kids to create their own crafts. As well as an area for sidewalk chalk art and face painting.

Food for thought

   The complimentary apple cider wasn’t enough on Saturday, the first day of the harvest festival, as temperatures dropped to 34 degrees and a steady rain turned the festival into a ghost town. By Sunday the grounds were a muddy mess with a 40 degree temperatures and strong winds made it a challenge to enjoy the art vendors.

    However, despite the bleak weather, people bundled up under layers of coats and enjoyed fall festival food. Vendors selling homemade salsa, ears of roasted corn, candy apples and bags of kettle corn popped in a giant copper kettle were a staple during the weekend long festival.

Entertainment daily

     Saturday’s performances performed on schedule even with the cold and rainy weather. There were four bands that played each day for the visitors that came out to the fair. The music kicked off every morning at 10 a.m. including performances from Russell McClanahan & Friends, The Strange, The Greg Robbins Quintet, Cornbread Killers, Taylor Cromer, The Barbaric Yawps and Kamikaze Dali on Saturday. Sunday’s lineup includes Bryan Bowers, Cannon Rogers, Pollard Greens, Thunderbolt Patterson, Tina and the Goose and Scott Warren and Friends. The music ended with the festival every day at 5 p.m. and stuck with a country/ folk theme. The music list was gathered from the 2017 Chiaha Q-102 Stage Schedule.

    All in all those who did attend seemed to enjoy themselves, after all the Chiaha Harvest Festival is a hometown tradition to some.

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Fall

I realized this morning on the drive to class that I wait all year for fall time. I road down the road with my windows cracked and the chilly air whipping in and making me feel content with life. I felt the same yesterday while I sat on my enclosed front porch doing school assignments with the windows and doors open and felt the cool breeze of fall come in and make our lives seem peaceful. My wife cleaned the house and had our wax melter plugged in with an apple cider scent that completed the feel. Fall is being able to take long walks and enjoy them because of the beautiful weather and scenery. Fall is the season for long sleeve shirts and fleece vests.

Fall brings back so many memories for me, and news ones get added every year. When I think of fall I think of going trick or treating as a kid and dressing up in a different costume every year. I think of going camping and starting a new grade in school. I think of raking leaves and jumping in the piles because that’s what they did on Charlie Brown and it looked like fun.

When I think of fall I think of Thanksgiving and helping my dad make pumpkin pie and eventually taking over making the pie every year. I think of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade which I have a tradition of not watching but mean to every year. I think of football and everyone gathering around in the living room to watch the days games. I think of cheering when our team wins and yelling at the TV when they lost.

When I think of fall I think of going to the county fair and riding rides or watching something as ridiculous as pig races. Fall is roasted corn on the cob covered in melted butter and salt. Fall is the colors red orange yellow and brown and a relaxing afternoon in the hammock.

When I think of fall I think of starting college and eventually transferring to Kennesaw State University and moving into my own apartment. Fall is making pancake Sunday afternoon with our balcony door open and while the falcons game is on TV. Fall is a beer with my roommates before a home football game where we don’t care if we win or lose. Fall is going to Owl-O-Ween and being disappointed but going back the next year anyway.

And finally, fall is the season where I got married and found out I was going to be a dad. Fall is moving into a new house and getting settled. Fall is the best because every year it gets better and becomes something new. Even if the expectations of this year don’t live up to past years fall always gets better and is always consistent.