By NANCY WILSTACH / Community Columnist

It’s too bad the capital of Texas thought of it first because a good motto for the city of Montevallo might be: “Keep Montevallo weird!”

Oh, well, maybe we could go with “quirky.” Something on the order of: “The quirkiest little city in the South . . .”

The latest example of fulfilling that aspiration comes up Sept. 8—Tinglewood Festival: Shavings, Smoke and Sound. The city hopes to do it annually, said Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Steve Gilbert.

“It is a festival of just wood working,” he said. “We were looking for an event unique to this community, and we got to thinking that so many people come here just to see the carvings.”

Those “carvings” are the work of Tim Tingle, who started carving up dead trees in Orr Park while he was laid off from his regular job as a coal miner.

Tingle, who has lived all his life on Pea Ridge, mined coal strictly to put food on the table.  It is more accurate to describe him as an artist and an author. He started carving up cedar trees that were killed in an ice storm in 1993. It was a win-win situation for him and for Montevallo and remains so today.

A former mayor, Dr. Milton Orr, donated the park’s initial land. Tingle explained that Orr’s gift carried a caveat that the cedars were not to be disturbed. The ice storm, however, apparently did not read the fine print.

“First I carved a stump into a horse head and left it in the park,” Tingle said. “Then, a few days later, I carved another one. I made sure no one was around to see me. It started some buzz around town—maybe it was elves.”

Working early in the morning or late at night, Tingle finished six initial carvings. “I never carved on live wood,” he said. In the area south of Shoal Creek bounded by the park’s upper walking trail, Tingle’s carvings now number 43.

As it became apparent that the carvings were a city attraction, the City Council dubbed the cedar grove Tinglewood. Now, it also is to be a celebration.

Free to all, the festival is to feature five professional chain saw carvers, Gilbert said, whose work will be performed on logs roughly four feet long. Trustmark Bank is handing out free earplugs to spectators. The finished carvings will be auctioned in the evening.

Music on the schedule are Mingo Fishtrap, Rollin in the Hay and Winston Ramble. The Balloon Guy, painting, a wildlife exhibit and a Space Bounce are some of the children’s activities.

An array of food trucks will be on hand, Gilbert said, “so visitors can make a day of it.” And a night, too, thanks to a special deal from Candlewood Suites available through the event web site: tinglewoodfestival.com.

So bring your sunscreen and your camera, as well as any spare quirks.