Ellington

The Mountain Arts Community Center is holding its first-ever Back to the MACC Fall Festival fundraiser Saturday, Sept. 22 from noon to 3 p.m.

“It’s fall and classes are starting up again, so we thought we would have a good fall festival with lots of kids’ activities,” said MACC Executive Director Barb Storm.

The event will feature barbecue, live music, line dancing provided by Hillbilly Entertainment, a cake auction, face painting, storytelling and other activities for children.

“It’s going to be a great day and a lot of fun,” said Storm. “It’s family-friendly and supports a good cause.”

Barbecue plates from Poppy’s will be served for $8 apiece, and the separate admission charge is $10 for adults or $5 for children under age 12. Storm said the funds will go help offset the cost of the sprinkler system necessary to bring the former Signal Mountain Elementary now housing the MACC up to current fire code standards.

“It’s hard to get excited about raising money for a sprinkler system, but you’ve got to love old buildings,” she said. “We have to do what’s necessary to keep the building open, user-friendly and thriving.”

Installing the sprinkler system is a $150,000 project. The SMArt Foundation raised $30,000 toward the project, and the remaining $120,000 will come from the town of Signal Mountain's general funds, according to Storm. She said the town of Signal Mountain included in its budget the remainder of the $140,000 yet to be raised by MACC to purchase and install the sprinkler system as well as run a new water line down Kentucky Avenue.

“The town is paying for the system regardless,” said Storm. “We’re doing whatever we can to help offset the cost.”

MACC will hold its first-ever Halloween Festival, which she said is an even bigger fundraising event than the Fall Festival, Oct. 27. Storm said she is currently looking for businesses to sponsor the October event.

“It’s quite an undertaking,” she said of the Halloween Festival. “Sponsors keep us from having to take our expenses out of the profits so we can benefit as much as we can.”