The 26th annual Lavender Festival is coming to Jackson Square in Oak Ridge on Saturday, June 20, giving Anderson County, Roane County, and Knoxville-area readers a full-day summer festival to put on the calendar.

The main festival runs 8 a.m.–4 p.m. and is free to attend. Organizers list 150 artisans, free children’s activities, Tennessee wine tasting, food trucks, local restaurants, and other festival features around Jackson Square.

A practical detail worth planning around: free shuttle service will run from Roane State Community College, 701 Briarcliff Ave., to the festival from 7 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday. The festival parking page says riders can park in the Visitor Lot or Student Parking and catch the shuttle near the flagpole in front of the Coffey/McNally Building.

The weekend also includes ticketed add-ons. The Oak Ridge city calendar lists the annual Herb Lunch on Friday, June 19, and Tour of Gardens events June 19–20. The festival site also lists Tennessee wine tasting as a ticketed event benefiting United Way of Anderson County.

For families, the festival lists free children’s activities from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. in front of the United Way Building. For shoppers, the draw is the mix of artisans, lavender-themed goods, plants, gifts, food, and maker booths. For local day-trippers, the shuttle makes it easier to treat Oak Ridge as a low-stress Saturday outing instead of circling Jackson Square for parking.

Local tip: Go early for easier browsing, bring water, and check the festival map before you head out. With summer heat, vendors, food trucks, and shuttle traffic all in the mix, a little planning will make the day smoother.