DUANE SHERRILLEditor

The 14^th annual 41A Music Festival in downtown Tullahoma will be held this Friday and Saturday, rain or shine, as the Highland Rim Kiwanis put on their free community event featuring music, food and fun.

Proceeds from the annual festival go to help area youth. Charities sponsored in the recent past included: Toys for Tots, Head Start, CASA Works, Tullahoma Day Care, Karing for Kids, Coffee County Community Advisory Board, Coffee County Children’s Advocacy, Blue Monarch, Hands on Science Center, Haven of Hope, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Horse Play, TACA, Shepherd’s House, the Literary Council and more. While the event is free to attend, all donations are appreciated.

Along with a variety of music acts Friday and Saturday, those in attendance will be treated to numerous food and craft vendors, all while strolling through downtown Tullahoma. And, on Saturday, there will be a kid’s zone with numerous activities like jump house, face painting and crafts for children. The entire festival is considered family and kid friendly. The kid’s zone opens at 3 p.m. Saturday.

As for the musical portion, organizers have brought back some local favorites like Salem Creek and Utopia while adding some new headliners to the stage.

“I think we have a very good lineup this year with something for everyone,” said musical coordinator Jason Redd. “We will have great acts Friday and Saturday for festival goers to enjoy.”

The music kicks off Friday with Justin Williams taking the stage at 5 p.m. followed by 2 Ton Hammer at 6:30 p.m. Friday night will be headlined by Boogie Knights at 8:15 p.m.

Saturday will see music get underway at 3 p.m. with FM Mayhem taking the stage followed by Salem Creek at 4:30 p.m. Utopia will take the stage at 6 p.m. and then Saturday night will be headlined by The Spazmatics.

The Spazmatics group performs 80’s hits complete with “nerdography” and “spaztic” movements. They add a unique dimension to their performance, demonstrating the common ties between 80’s new wave and today’s popular music. The band members’ onstage costume includes bowties, plaid pants, taped glasses, pocket protectors and short shorts. The costumes are a homage to the film Revenge of the Nerds.

As for timing leading up to the festival, Kiwanis President Tracy Sergeant said the club will begin closing the main festival parking lot at 10 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 26. They will then start blocking off parking spaces within the festival area at midnight. Road closures at West Lincoln, West Grundy and NW Atlantic will begin at 7 a.m. that Friday as the stage is constructed at 9 a.m. Gates open Friday at 4:30 p.m. and bands begin at 5 p.m. On Saturday the gates open at 2:30 p.m. and bands begin at 3 p.m. There will be festival entrance gates at Lincoln Street and Grundy Street.