Rain played peekaboo at Vestival on Saturday, but that didn’t stop 900 people from enjoying themselves at the (nearly) annual celebration on the Candoro Marble grounds in South Knoxville’s Vestal neighborhood.
Music flowed, kids got their faces painted and puppets roamed around as attendees munched on pizza cones, homemade sausage, funnel cake and shaved ice. In addition to multiple crafty vendors, there were booths for the Candoro Arts & Heritage Center, the South Knoxville Neighborhood & Business Coalition, Vestal United Methodist Church and the East Tennessee Bluegrass Association.
Dragonfly Aerial & Circus Arts and the Cattywampus Puppet Council entertained both young and old. The Knox County Health Department even came to share information about the still-threatening Covid-19 virus and to offer vaccinations and boosters.
Despite the mist and rain, cool temperatures brought a welcome contrast to previous hot and humid Vestival celebrations. After this reminder of pre-Covid Vestival, everyone is looking forward to Vestival 2023!
Cattywampus Puppet Council members Rachel Milford, Andreas Bastias and Sarah Margaret Hutchison wow Vestival attendees with the biggest bird around. (Photos by Betsy Pickle)
Madeline Rogero, Trudy Miller Monaco and Joan Monaco visit while sharing the history of Candoro Marble and the Candoro Arts & Heritage Center.
Fire-spinner Jessica Brackeen shows her style as she represents for Dragonfly Aerial & Circus Arts.
Elected-officials alert: music lover Judge John Rosson and First District City Council member Tommy Smith, a hard-working Vestival volunteer
The Tennessee Sheiks, including Marcus Shirley, Don Cassell, Nancy Brennan Strange, Vince Ilagen, Michael "Crawdaddy" Crawford and Barry "Po" Hannah, perform at the finale of Vestival 2022.
Nancy Brennan Strange and Michael "Crawdaddy" Crawford brighten up the cloudy day with song.
Michael "Crawdaddy" Crawford plays as drummer Buddy Honeycut plays drums and sings lead.
Don Cassell is the Tennessee Sheiks' multitalented band leader.
County Commissioner Carson Dailey, a Vestival volunteer, pauses on his way to another task.
Dianna Mercier and Emagene Reagan end their day at Vestival with tasty shaved ice.Betsy Pickle is a freelance writer and editor who particularly enjoys spotlighting South Knoxville.