For nearly 25 years, thousands of savvy antique shoppers from across the country have flocked to the small town of Clinton in May and October for the Clinch River Antique Festival. This year’s fall festival, Oct. 3-4, will be a bit different, according to Historic Downtown Clinton Executive Director Katherine Birkbeck. The heart of the festival, Market Street, where shoppers stroll through antique stores and street vendors showcasing vintage finds, artisan treasures, collectibles and handcrafted goods, is undergoing street infrastructure improvements.
“The improvements will also transform our ‘town square’ with enhanced landscaping with wall seats, and wider ADA-compliant sidewalks with ramps and steps incorporated into business entrances for easier entry. It’s going to be more pedestrian-friendly and comfortable with more mature shade trees, retaining the small town, homey, friendly atmosphere Clinton is known for,” Katherine explains.
During construction, fall festival guests can still shop over 100 antique and artisan dealers in the Antique District and close by in the Commerce Street parking lot. Adjacent Hoskins Park hosts an inspiration garden, with furniture and tablescapes, ideas for entertaining and demonstrations with something visually engaging every hour of the festival. Parking is free.
Under Katherine’s leadership, Clinton was designated a Tennessee Main Street program, becoming part of the national Main Street program, dedicated to revitalizing downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Securing hundreds of thousands in grants, Katherine and her team have restored historic buildings; recruited food and beverage vendors (a craft brewery coming soon); added events, Sip of Summerfest and Mosaic Art Festival to the antique festivals; developed a 50-site historic walking tour; and created a high school youth board involved in projects like the storybook trail. “Students helping to revitalize their hometown inspires our whole community.”
Visit Knoxville’s neighbor, 24-ish miles to the north. Reward your inner foodie with local homemade goodness. Take historic walking tours (don’t miss Terrapin Hill, where pre-dam backwaters flooded and stranded turtles on their back). Enjoy the antiquing, holiday market, open house and cookie crawl. Discover treasures you only find in a small town devoted to preserving its 200-year-old history.
Visit HistoricDowntownClinton.org.
Antiquing
Antique lovers who know their stuff shop Historic Downtown Clinton’s Antique District all year long–not just the Spring and Fall Clinch River Antique Festivals. Shoppers enjoy chatting with The Antique Merchants Guild of Clinton, who eat, sleep and breathe the history and value of American and European handcrafted furniture, decor, collectibles, art and furnishings.
Shopping
Shopping local in Historic Downtown Clinton means taking home treasures you won’t find anywhere else! Whether it’s Americana vintage decor, handcrafted artisan goods, art galleries, boutique fashion, or mercantile gift shops, locally owned stores offer one-of-a-kind charm and East Tennessee hospitality. Many downtown shops are also just a click away online.
Festivals/Events
Year-round events showcase Clinton’s heritage and the folks who live there. The antique festival is a two-day event featuring over 100 antique and artisan vendors. The spring Mosaic Festival is a performing arts celebration with Clinton schools. August’s beer-tasting Sip of Summerfest and annual Christmas parade bookend the best of a small town with a big personality.
Food & Beverage
Eateries can date back to 1930, like Hoskins Drug Store with its original soda fountain, serving hamburgers, malts and blue-plate specials, to chefs in new spaces like family-owned Hamock’s with Darlene’s famous chicken salad, or Norris’ Chunky Monkey Ice Cream and coffees, to new cafés and bakeries, Little Birds Macarons and Happi Hostess. Winding Waters craft brewery opens soon!
Historical Tours
Discover the stories behind Historic Downtown Clinton with family-friendly self-guided Walking Tours following 70 historic markers. Explore charming streets and historic landmarks, like the Dutch Colonial Kincaid House, formerly known as Brownworth Manor, built in the 1930s. Townie’s Tale features an art installation of Townie Terrapin with a storybook trail about Clinton’s history.
Preservation
Historic Downtown Clinton is in the middle of its biggest revitalization yet. A designated Tennessee Main Street program, it’s garnering state and national support to restore the downtown district. Ten historic buildings are currently under renovation. Discover this charming little town, named in 1809 for George Clinton, America’s only vice-president to two presidents, Jefferson and Madison.
Follow on IG @historicdowntownclintontn.
Katherine Birkbeck
Historic Downtown Clinton Executive Director
Katherine was an investor in Historic Downtown Clinton with her photography and event business before becoming its executive director. “My skill sets and experiences, a master’s in professional grant-writing, my photography and marketing expertise all came together for this position.” The wife of an Atlanta native, whom she convinced to move back to her hometown, and mother of twins, Katherine is passionate about historic preservation.