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It’s pretty fun to play even a small part in local history. We get to do that every week by publishing the Cherokee Scout, but associates like myself also get to see it happen firsthand by volunteering in the community.
In 2015, local resident Eve Miranda started an Earth Day Celebration at the Andrews Public Library that included educational events for elementary school students, who were bussed to the library to learn about the environment and how to keep the planet safe for future generations. A student poster contest was also held.
By 2018, the event’s success led the library and Andrews Chamber of Commerce to partner together, re-brand the event and name it “Spring Fling,” which amazingly wasn’t being used anywhere else in the region. The event was expanded to two days, with Friday continuing as Educational Day at the library, and Saturday becoming a Street Fair & Nature Expo.
The expanded event was an immediate hit with the community, with vendors coming from all around the area to participate, according to visitandrewsnc.com/spring-fling. And it has only grown in the years since then, with 94 vendors expected to be lined up on Main Street downtown ready to go from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. That includes Sunshine Mountain Farms Nursery with plants, which has been requested in the past.
I was fortunate to be vice president of the Andrews Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors when the decision was made to make Spring Fling the unofficial kickoff event for the spring season in both the Andrews Valley and all of Cherokee County. Happily, it’s a vote that has only gotten better every year.
This year’s event promises to be the best yet, in part because I had nothing to do with it. Chamber Director Nola Cooper has done a great job of wrangling in all the different pieces for the event.
Cooper was joined on the planning committee by an all-star lineup consisting of Tim Massey (sound guy), Holly Bryant (Tri-County Community College Small Business Center), Kelly Bryant (Andrews Public Library), Robert Allen (Trout Unlimited), Callie Moore (Mountain True), Jan Olson (FernCrest Winery), Hannah Johnston (Homespun Hobbies), Allison Ralph (Old Town Brokers), AP Patel (Quality Inn) and members of the local homesteading group. And Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Victoria Ivie helped with logistics planning.
Perhaps the neatest change this year is the third annual Doxie Derby has added all dogs to the costume contest, along with a parade through the festival. Dogs make everything better, so bring yours out to have some fun, too; there will be a dog watering station set up in front of the chamber office.
In addition, the United Methodist Men will be having an indoor yard sale at Andrews United Methodist Church, while the United Methodist Women are planning a bake sale at their booth. Nearby, the Valleytown Cultural Arts Center will be giving tours all day; folks can sign up at their booth on the corner of Chestnut and Main streets.
The “Celebration of Earth Day and Our Beautiful Mountain Community” includes 11 different demonstrations under the tent on the lawn at the Methodist church – from Raised Box Gardening to Fly Tying & Casting – so there’s something for everyone. There will be live music all day, with guitarist Bill Vespasian playing from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Betty Vaughn & Friends on stage from 1-2:30 p.m. and the Sundown Band live from 3:30-5 p.m.
Other highlights include a KidZone complete with a Little Rascals Petting Zoo, Bouncy House & Slide, Sidewalk Chalk, Rock Painting, Cupcake Wars and Bubble Station. Then there’s a Nature Scavenger Hunt & Games at the MountainTrue booth, Native American Artifacts and more at the library, plus a food court with picnic tables.
The event committee has good reason to be excited this year. Start your anti-rain dances now so nature will shine its best light on Spring Fling this weekend.
David Brown is publisher of the Cherokee Scout. You can reach him by phone, 828-837-5122; email, dbrown@cherokeescout.com; or on X @daviddBstroh.