HARRIMAN, Tenn. (WVLT) -- In Roane County, one community in particular wanted you to have the day off because they hoped for a big crowd.

The annual Hooray for Harriman Festival is a Labor Day tradition that started to support local businesses.

"It's small town America. You can come and visit with your neighbors and fellowship with everybody," Harriman Mayor Chris Mason told Volunteer TV.

Harriman has lots of charm, and lots of community spirit.

What it doesn't have a lot of, are local shops.

Small town living is all about embracing tradition and festivals like Hooray for Harriman, but Monday's event was also intended to attract more business to the downtown area.

"Positive activity breeds positive activity and that's kind of our mission," Mason explained.

There are six new businesses in downtown.
Red Door Antiquities is one of them.
It opened four months ago.

"Today, we have been just swamped," Pat Mynatt, co-owner of the Red Door Antiquities said.

"The whole idea behind this is to help show people that you can open a store in downtown Harriman and survive," Mynatt continued.

Mynatt has lived in Harriman since the mid 1980's.

She wants others to share her vision of a more inhabited downtown.

Right now, Red Door Antiquities is the only store you'll find open on the weekends.

"That again, is another thing we do to get people coming downtown," Mynatt told WVLT. "Hopefully the other shops and businesses will start staying open also."

With Hooray for Harriman going on outside, merchants will notice thousands of people are interested in this town-- whether it's because of the food, the square dancing, or mechanical bull, they're enjoying what downtown has to offer.

"The more people that you can get downtown, the more you can get the word out about what you're trying to do," Mayor Mason said.

"It's just a neat place to live," Mynatt added.

Between 3,000 and 3,500 usually come out for Hooray for Harriman.

It used to be on the riverfront, but was moved back to the downtown area this year to help business.