Honor Fountain City Day brings the fun to FC Park

Shannon CareyFountain City

While the rest of the nation is on the lake or sweating over a grill, Fountain Citians know that the real Memorial Day fun is to be had at Fountain City Park, where Fountain City Town Hall hosts Honor Fountain City Day every year.

That’s a lot of Fountain City, and Fountain City has a lot to celebrate. The event has been running for 42 years, after all.

The day in the park is a time to remember Fountain City’s past as a resort town on the outskirts of Knoxville and to celebrate its present and future as a thriving residential and business community.

Nan Scott, who chairs Fountain City Town Hall’s board of directors, said the organization hosts Honor Fountain City Day “to bring our neighborhood together, to celebrate our heritage, and to recognize outstanding leaders and businesses who have made our community better.”

“For me, it’s just a way to love Fountain City and experience what makes it special,” she said.

The event is held 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Memorial Day, May 29, in Fountain City Park. There will be live entertainment all day in the park gazebo, featuring Nostalgia, Brandywine, Andy LeGrand and Tennessee Wind Symphony. There will be plenty of activities for the kids, plus exhibits by the UT Entomology Department’s Bug Zoo and Upstate Birds of Prey.

Ken Cloninger will drive the Town Hall Train for children and parents to enjoy a ride through the park, hearkening back to the Dummy Line that ran between Knoxville and Fountain City.

Local artists and crafters will have their work on display or for sale. Food will be available, including barbecue, hot dogs, homemade ice cream, and soft drinks.

Fountain City historian Dr. Jim Tumblin will host the Heritage Table with photos of Fountain City’s past and copies his book, “Fountain City: People Who Made a Difference.”

Gerald Green of the Metropolitan Planning Commission will speak about community walkability, both in Fountain City and throughout Knoxville.

There will also be an awards ceremony, with former mayor Daniel Brown receiving the Friend of Fountain City Award, Knoxville Office of Neighborhoods director David Massey receiving the Chairman’s Award, Amigos and Tequila Mexican Grill receiving the Commercial Business Restoration Award, and the owners of the Mashburn House on Gibbs Drive receiving the Residential Restoration Award. Fountain City Man and Woman of the Year will be announced as well.

But Fountain City Town Halls hasn’t forgotten the significance of Memorial Day. There will be a special ceremony, led by WBIR’s John Becker to honor U.S. veterans, along with music by Lynn Bennett and playing of Taps to end the ceremony.

“The event is a patriotic remembrance of the women and men who have served in our military to give us all the freedom to come together for a party in their honor,” said Scott.

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