DUANE SHERRILLEditor

The show must go on but in the case of the 41A Music Festival the show will be condensed to one day because of safety concerns presented by the remnants of Hurricane Helene.

A forecast for high winds and tropical storm downpours Friday left the Highland Rim Kiwanis with no option but to make this year’s 41A Music Festival a one-day event.

“Safety of our guests, vendors and volunteers is our top priority,” said Highland Rim Kiwanis President Tracy Sergeant. “Given the forecast for high wind and torrential rains on Friday, we feel it is in the best interest of all involved to consolidate the festival to one day only.”

The decision to consulate the event to one day was made Thursday as Kiwanians met with city officials, reviewed the latest weather forecasts and agreed there was no option but to consolidate. Sponsors and vendors of the event have been sent e-mails letting them know that the festival is just on Saturday.

The one-day event is not without precedent as a one-day festival was held just a few years ago due to the pandemic. The festival returned to downtown, where it will be held Saturday, this past year after a short hiatus caused by the pandemic.

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.

The show will go on as planned on Saturday. However, in a change from the regular schedule, the gates will open at 1 p.m., allowing merchants and vendors more time to present their merchandise to festival goers.

Saturday will see music get underway at 1:30 p.m. with 2 Ton Hammer, which was supposed to perform Friday but was rebooked for Saturday. Then at 3 p.m. FM Mayhem will take 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.