Swiss Festival, Gruetli TN

We were in the Alps or at least higher elevation on the South Cumberland Plateau. Mary Evelyn and I went to Gruetli Laager TN near Tracy City and Monteagle to the Swiss Festival that they have been celebrating for 30 years. This year they cranked up their publicity - it was in the Tennessee Conservationist and the Tennessean.
The Swiss came over in the 1870's when conditions were difficult in Europe and settled together in a farming community. With their efficient and industrious ways they had a good life in Tennessee.
The brown Swiss oxen were the first thing we saw when we arrived.
The alpen horns were played along with the accordion, and yodeling in the Swiss style.
There were fondue and wine tasting. Brats with kraut, beer and roasted corn on the cob were for sale at very low prices. By the way admission for the festival was $2, incredibly cheap.
The house on the homestead was open and completely furnished with many traditional items and Swiss memorabilia. Several quilts were on display. This one reminded me of the Swiss flag - white cross on a red background.
There was also a little flea market, lots of fun to browse. A book caught my eye, Something from Nothing by Robert J Baltz, Jr. It tells the story of the Baltz family that emigrated from Germany to Nashville and established a successful meatpacking company in Nashville.
The reason this book interested me was that Robert's Uncle John was my godfather.
That story will be for another time. The book was signed by the author and the recipient of the author's note happened to be the clerk who took my money. We had a good conversation about the author and and my interest in the book. I'm sure it gave her comfort that the buyer had a special connection to the book that she had donated to the festival.
We returned to Nashville by way of Beersheba Springs and McMinnville. The view is from the overlook at Beersheba Springs which was a cool Summer get-away from hot and unhealthy cities before the day of air-conditioning and modern sanitation.
It was a great way to spend a lovely July Saturday.