SassyFest 2025: A Year of Community and Resiliency

Another Sassafras Moon Herbal Festival has come and gone, and we are still buzzing from the incredible energy you all brought to Union Street! This year's theme of "community and resiliency" was not just a theme, it was the heart and soul of the day, woven into every conversation, every class, and every connection made.

We are so proud to announce that over 2,000 people attended the event this year! The streets were alive with learning and laughter. From the free classes on building resiliency with herbs to the live music and kids' activities, it was a day filled with connection and joy.

A special thank you to those who wore green ribbons in solidarity with our neighbors who were impacted by Hurricane Helene and the devastating floods. The ribbons were a powerful symbol of our community's strength and resilience, honoring those we lost and celebrating how we came together to rebuild.

A huge thank you to our incredible vendors, who are the backbone of our festival. Your passion for your craft and the quality of your products are what make our festival so unique. Thank you to our dedicated volunteers, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes to make everything run smoothly. And to our sponsors, your support allows us to keep this event free for everyone.

And to our incredible sponsors, your support allows us to keep this event free for everyone. We extend our deepest gratitude to Natural Foods Market, Mountain Rose Herbs, Three Rivers Market, Red Moon Herbs, Erwin Acupuncture, Ageless Integrative Medicine and Laser Skincare, and Herbalist & Alchemist. Your commitment to our community is truly invaluable.

The festival may be over, but the work continues. We are already looking ahead to next year and are committed to making it even better. We would love to hear your feedback, please consider joining us for a feedback session this Tuesday, September 23rd, at 6:00 p.m. at the Union Street Taproom. We'll be collecting ideas to help shape the future of SassyFest.

If you are interested in learning more about how our community is continuing to rebuild, please check out the Unicoi County Long-Term Recovery Group and RISE Erwin on Facebook.

Thank you again for being a part of this amazing community. We can't wait to see you all next year!