Johnson County community, art enthusiasts gather at Long Journey Home Festival

JOHNSON COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL) – The Long Journey Home Festival kicked off its tenth year on Friday. The festival began with the unveiling of the new Johnson County Center for the Arts Gallery on Main.

On Saturday, the community attended the Musical Heritage Homecoming Tour and witnessed the grand reveal of the newest addition to the Mural Mile in Downtown Mountain City, the Appalachian Elixir. The new mural honors Clarence “Tom” Ashley. Traditional mountain gospel and singing were a highlight on Saturday, as Kenny Price and Jerry Moses carried on Ashley’s legacy at the Heritage Hall Theatre.

“[Ashley] was very inspirational to other musicians in the area,” said Lewis Chapman, Johnson County Center of the Arts communications and customer service director. “And it was just a mural of him. And musicians got up, and they played, and Kristi Dunne, our director, painted that mural.”

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The Musical Heritage Mural Mile and Long Journey Home were funded in part by the East Tennessee Foundation, Johnson County Community Foundation, Tennessee Arts Commission, and community members’ generosity.

“And I can’t tell you how many volunteers helped us get that new art center together,” said Chapman. “And to get this community going, this festival going together out of their heart, volunteer and time and materials and effort. It’s the way this community works.”

The festival will conclude on Sunday with a “Sunday Singin'” at Heritage Hall Theatre.

To learn more, visit www.longjourneyhome.net. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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