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Revel in plethora of foliage at festival in downtown Jefferson
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A plethora of flowers, trees and shurbs will be strewn at Jefferson Clubhouse and McKinney Hill for Foliage Fest 2016.

Sponsored for the sixth year by the Jefferson Heritage Tree Council and Main Street Jefferson, the free event will be from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at 302 Longview Drive at Old Swimming Pool and Memorial Drive in Jefferson

It will feature a huge variety of high-quality, locally grown plants for sale. Tree and plant vendors include IG Nursery, McElroy Nursery and Herbs by Deb.

Walter Reeves, gardening expert heard on radio and TV, will be on hand to offer landscaping advice at 11:15 a.m. He will meet festival goers at booths for Outdoor Environments, Legacy Landscape and Campbell Tree Service until 1 p.m. to field individual questions. 

New this year is the Clover Run-Over 5K and Fun Run, sponsored by the Jackson County 4-H Club. The event starts at 10 a.m. with preregistration online at www.active.com

Awards will be presented to the overall male and female winners and the top three male and female finishers in each of the standard five-year age groups. Awards will also be given out at 11:15 a.m. to the top three 4-H alumni finishers and for the most green costume. Finish line management and results will be provided by Classic Race Services.

Along with the plants and run, vendors will peddle handmade crafts, artwork and nature-inspired arts. Jerry Waldrip will sell handmade baskets while Fred Quiles will sell recycled garden art.

Food and beverage booths will supply BBQ, pasta and desserts for consumers to feast on as they shop. Redd’s Que & Stew will serve barbecue and all the fixings. Plus your sweet tooth can be satisfied by Ferranti’s Cakery, Tasteful Creations and A&L Shaved Ice Company.

The day also will include live music including bluegrass, Irish and acoustic. On the music stage, Mark Garrison and Friends of nationally known BlueBilly Grit will perform at 11:45 a.m.

Following that act will be Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame honorees Clyde Beck, Sally Stites and Bill Long and the Sunroom Gang at 3:15 p.m. A Fiddlin’ Around sing-along with Al McLeod will be at 1:45 p.m. and the Drake School of Irish Dance will add a little of St. Paddy’s day cheer at 2:45 p.m. Also performing will be the Sassy Steppers, the Jefferson Fiddle Kids and the Now & Then Band.