Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 8, 1994 TAG: 9405100002
SECTION: DISCOVER NRV PAGE: 44 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Appalachian folk art and crafts, foot-stompin' mountain music and some really fine, down-home eats are standard fare at the festivals in the New River Valley.
Whimsical crafts and traditional arts are demonstrated and sold, children's contests are held and historical events are honored and re-enacted. The towns and areas come to life in celebration of the past and present.
Blacksburg and Virginia Tech Summer Art Festival Concerts take place each Friday evening in June and July on the lawn at Henderson Hall. Admission is free. Some folks bring supper, snacks, kids, grandparents, chairs and trusty old quilts for reclining and relaxing in the music-filled, summer night air.
Chateau Morrisette Jazz Festivals on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Floyd. Live music, wine tasting, winery tours and food vendors outdoors in a pastoral setting. $7.50 per person over age 21 includes music, winery tour, wine glass and tasting. 703-593-2865.
Taste of the Arts at the Mill Pond in Narrows, a new festival for 1994, June 11 and 12. Events on Saturday take place from 10 a.m. to midnight; Sunday, noon-6 p.m. Fine arts, music, food and wine tasting. Sponsored by the Progress in Narrows Now organization. For more information, call Barbara Capps at 382-2397 or Curtis Downey at 726-3499.
Pearisburg Festival Around Town, Giles County, June 17 and 18. Art exhibits, crafts vendors, contests and food booths open at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, and continue 9 a.m.-9 p.m. on Saturday. Admission is free.
The festival is sponsored by the Pearisburg Business and Community Association and community volunteers. To find out more about the events, call Debbie Severson at 921-1825 or Donna Johnston, 921-2335.
Chautauqua Festival in the Park, nine-day event in Wytheville, June 18-26. Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park is filled with arts and crafts booths, quilt exhibits, children's events, live music and a chili cook-off. Admission is free. Historical tours in the area are conducted. Call 228-3211 for more information.
Radford Riverfest, Bisset Park, July 23. A hot barbecue-cooking contest, a crafts show and live music are some of the activities. Sponsored by the Radford Chamber of Commerce, the ``Great Raft Race'' on the New River is the highlight of the day.
For more information, call 639-2202.
New River Valley Fair, New River Valley Fairgrounds on Virginia 100 in Dublin, Aug. 1-6. Carnival rides, traditional exhibits of agriculture, flowers and crafts, horse pull, demolition derby, popular names in country and western music. This year's musicians include Tracy Byrd, Neal McCoy, McBride and the Ride, Michelle Wright, and bluegrass and gospel music with Bill Monroe and the Greene's.
For more information, write P.O. Box 595, Newbern 24126 or call 674-1548.
Steppin' Out Festival, downtown Blacksburg, Aug. 5-6. College Avenue, Jackson Street and a portion of Draper Road and Main Street will be closed for the event.
Steppin' Out features live entertainment, children's activities, local and regional crafts and exotic food booths. The Downtown Merchants of Blacksburg sponsor of the festival and sell an annual edition of the Steppin' Out T-shirt.
For more information, call Mary Riley at 951-4200.
Newport Agricultural Fair, the oldest agricultural fair in the state, recreation center in Newport, Virginia 42 off U.S. 460, Aug. 12-13. A real down-home celebration of livestock, baked goodies, arts and crafts and harvest produce, traditional horse pull, a jousting contest and fireworks on Saturday night. Admission $1 on Friday and $1.50 on Saturday. For more information, call 544-7469.
Wilderness Trail Festival, Christiansburg, Sept. 17, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Arts and crafts exhibitors, food vendors, a ``Kiddy Karnival'' and lots of live entertainment are some of the crowd pleasers. Several blocks on Main and Hickok streets will be closed off for the celebration. Sponsored by the Christiansburg-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce,
For more information call Kathy Mantz, Chamber of Commerce director, at 382-4251.
Pembroke Heritage Festival, celebrating the mountain heritage of the Giles County town, Sept. 17. Country breakfast, period costumes, old-fashioned foods, craft demonstrations, games and contests. Pre-1900-style music and dancing, storytellers of Appalachian folk tales. For more information, call Lee Allen, 626-3689.
Mount Tabor Fall Festival, Slusser's Chapel, Mount Tabor Road, Blacksburg, Sept. 17. Homemade apple butter, music, crafts, contests, children's activities. For more information, call Chuck Ballengee at 552-7602.
Septemberfest, Radford, Sept. 23-24. An evening of wine tasting, food sampling and live jazz music, followed by activities all Saturday on Norwood Street in the center of the city. Carnival games, vendors, crafts, live music, chili cook-off contest.
Sponsored by Main Street Radford. Call Bud Jeffries at 731-3656 for information.
Count Pulaskifest, downtown Pulaski, Oct. 1. Parade historic displays, youth activities, live entertainment and crafts, food booths. Polish sausages are the specialty.
Sponsored by the Count Pulaski Celebration Committee. For more information, call David Hart at the town offices, 980-1000.
Newbern Fall Festival of Arts and Crafts, historic Newbern in Pulaski County, Oct. 8-10. Children's carnival rides, hot-air balloons and stagecoach rides through the village, live entertainment, displays and demonstrations of old-fashioned crafts. Wilderness Road Regional Museum.
Baked goods and home-cooked foods, including brown beans and corn bread. Newbern is reached from Interstate 81, exit 98; follow the signs. For more information, call Ann Bailey, 382-2298, or Daisy Williams, 674-5888.
Oktoberfest, Mountain Lake Resort. For details, call 951-1806.
YMCA Arts and Crafts Festival, 25th annual event, Squires Student Center, Virginia Tech, Nov. 11-13. More than 100 artists and craftsmen. For more information, call 231-6860.
Memo: Story began with New River Valley Fair. The first part of the story and