Pioneer Days returns to Downtown Livingston, to celebrate Overton County’s past and pioneer spirit.
Pioneer Day Committee Chairman Gene Gant said people will enjoy an artifact show, an antique car show, country and bluegrass music. Gant said there will also be re-enactments and people dressed in old-fashioned outfits.
“We’ve had a lot of great politicians that have come from our area, the Upper Cumberland, a lot of great musicians that have come from this area, so the history is very rich and colorful, if you will,” Gant said. “We just feel like it’s a great way to nod to our past.”
Gant said Livingston used to have a heritage festival, but it ended around the year 2000. Gant said the same people who begged for a similar festival to come back are the ones who enjoy reliving the memories of running around the square from booth to booth as a kid and having fun.
“Because of their memory, we have brought it back,” Gant said. “Trying to get it to, you know, recreate that memory for them and hopefully we are gonna be very successful at that.”
Gant said people who attend are encouraged to bring their own instruments to play in between shows.
“That was one of the things that in the past, the Pioneer Days was famous for was people gathering around the square under the trees in the shade and just getting together and jamming with their banjos, and dulcimers, and their instruments of all kind,” Gant said. “Those are fun to watch and see the different groups that get together.”
Gant said some of the bluegrass performers are locals, and some are people who are not from the Upper Cumberland but have huge followings. Gant said that due to potential construction on the square, the committee decided to have Pioneer Days at Central Park this year.
Pioneer Days will run from 12pm-9pm on Friday, 10am-9pm Saturday.
