The City of Oak Ridge is counting down to the second annual Atomic Fall Fest, which is set for September 12. The community-wide celebration takes place in A.K. Bissell Park with live music, free family activities, arts and craft vendors, and more.
Schedule
• 10 a.m. – Festival opens with free kids’ activities, food trucks, and local dance performances from Creative Edge Dance Studio
• Noon – Opening ceremony in the main field with the Oak Ridge High School Dance Cats
• 5 p.m. – Concert gates open
• 6 p.m. – The Verve Pipe opens the show, with Tonic and Vertical Horizon co-headlining
Tickets to the concerts are on sale now for $25 Tickets
Festival-goers can look forward to a wide variety of attractions and entertainment:
• Arts & Crafts Show: Browse through the dozens of artisan vendors in the parking lot in front of the Oak Ridge Senior Center
• Lactation Station & Sensory Safe Space: A cool, private space is reserved in the Oak Ridge Senior Center for East Tennessee Lactation’s Lactation Station and parent changing tables; Xander’s Place is also hosting their sensory safe space for littles
• Performances & Activities: Dance from Creative Edge Dance Studio and Oak Ridge High School Dance Cats, belly dancing from The Dance Centre of Oak Ridge, a cornhole tournament, traveling magic shows, Home Depot kids’ projects, Splatter Oak Ridge, adoptable pets from the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter, and a community arts & crafts tent
• Civic Center Plaza: Youth Advisory Board cotton candy and popcorn; local business info booths
• Oak Ridge Conference Center: Oak Ridge Art Center displays; Oak Ridge Heritage and Preservation Association (ORHPA) exhibits; Scarboro 85 Monument Foundation; American Museum of Science and Energy (AMSE) demonstrations; and local student artwork
• Food & Drinks: A lineup of local food trucks, plus beer provided by Hops and Hounds
“We are bringing back a full slate of free, kid-friendly activities for this year’s Atomic Fall Fest,” Atomic Fall Fest Executive Director Jon Hetrick said. “We will have attractions for children of all ages, like bounce houses, face painting, and splatter painting, while teens and older kids can try the rock-climbing wall, a bungee jump, sports, and more.”
Misfit Herd will bring its mobile petting zoo, and Flippenout’s Trampoline Show returns with its world-class athletes performing extreme trampoline stunts. Snow cones, cotton candy, popcorn, and a classic dunking booth round out the fun.
The free kids’ areas are open on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Free Parking & Shuttle
Free parking is available at Wilson Street, with a free shuttle running non-stop to A.K. Bissell Park throughout the day. Additional parking is available at:
• Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) and the Pollard Center
• Oak Ridge High School
• Armor Gym on Oak Ridge Turnpike
• Accessible parking is available at the Oak Ridge Library parking lot, with a free shuttle to the field
For more information on safety guidelines, sponsorships, and updates, visit atomicfallfest.com. People planning to attend the Atomic Fall Fest can sign up for safety and event notifications at atomicfallfest.com/alerts or by texting ATOMICFEST to 888777.