Cosby, TN celebrates all that it is and has become every year each spring and fall called: On Cosby. And if you like local Smoky Mountain crafts, this is as good of a festival as the area offers. Crafters of all kinds selling their wares – from homespun crafts to local authors, you can easily lose track of the day going from booth to booth browsing through all the local goods.
On Cosby isn’t just for crafters, everyone from local politicians to nonprofit groups set up booths here. You definitely don’t want to miss the various culinary offerings at the On Cosby festival. Besides being a great local festival, On Cosby is held at the base of the Great Smoky Mountains.
Let me reiterate that the craft show is the major draw to the On Cosby festival. Featuring over 50 vendors each year, it’s an eclectic festival that incorporates both traditional mountain crafts and a number of items that would surprise you, and that are new to most. Crafters will still be heavy on popular sellers – lots of quilts, bears and log cabin home décor that are always sought out locally. You’ll also find Southern favorites such as the hillbilly wine glasses and paintings on old barn boards. The crafts-people at On Cosby are especially talented and it shows in their work. Things that you might discard become a work of art to some and an item that you may have not even thought twice about; it really is a “someone’s junk is another’s treasure” scenario. This past year, there was even a local author promoting and selling autographed copies of her book, the topic of which centers around the Smokies.
Being that it’s a small town festival, everybody who’s anybody locally is bound to show up. On Cosby’s back row of booths is a local politician’s dream that is only equaled by the number of nonprofit groups promoting their upcoming charities and trying to get people involved. Girls Scouts selling brownies and cupcakes is always a crowd pleaser, and why wouldn’t it be. Beside the girl scouts is a church youth group raising money for a trip, followed by people working for the Appalachian Bear Rescue. And while people continue to speak about the issues, gain signatures, and recruit volunteers, people are eating and the entertainment goes on.
You’ll find the main stage at the festival’s center, literally. Over the next three days, there will be more bluegrass played on this stage than you can shake a stick at. Gospel is big as well and always draws a big crowd to root on their favorite local group or singer.
Make sure to visit the moonshine exhibit as well and take a trip back to Cosby’s past. The festival’s presentation shows how Cosby became the moonshine capital of the Smokies.
Various food tents and booths align the front of the festival and rightly so as most are overcome by all the sensual smells upon entrance. Numerous foods to eat by hand as well as full meals make up theses tents, many with smoky wafting above. Soon, the smell of BBQ over takes your lungs followed by a buttery fragrance that signals the popping of popcorn, cotton candy not far off either. The breeze brings the sound of children lining up for delicious ice cream, despite the apparent coolness of the fall air. On Cosby is definitely a local festival not to be missed. Bring your appetite; a chair to relax in, feel free to dance and listen to the music; and bring the kids along for a weekend you’re sure not to forget.