Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, August 25, 1995 TAG: 9508250032
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The seventh annual New River Valley Herb Festival is happening Saturday and Sunday at The Plant Plant in Christiansburg. This Renaissance Faire features jousting knights, dancing lords and ladies and herbal foods fit for a king.
Artists and craftsmen from all over will display their wares. You'll find unique items such as herbal dream pillows, garden sculptures, massage oils, aromatic jewelry, herbal stationery and books, topiaries and bird houses.
Wreaths and door bouquets, soaps, powders, vinegars, herbal medicines, flower essences, herbal teas and plants are among the offerings, too. Everything from pottery to potpourri will be on display.
You won't want to miss the live entertainment. Performers at this year's festival include Trespassers Will, The McKenzies, Barb Martin, Grace Note and Re-Awakening. Puppet shows, juggling, sword fighting demonstrations and dancing are part of the fun, too. The entertainment starts at 11 a.m. both days.
You can learn more about herbs at a variety of seminars offered at no extra charge. Topics include aromatherapy, herbal medicines and no-fat baking. Children are invited to attend a workshop on pressing flowers. Other seminars on attracting hummingbirds and butterflies to your garden, identifying wild edible and medicinal plants and planting small herb gardens for personal use will be offered.
If you're interested in American history and folklore, don't miss the seminar on Native American storytelling. Otter Woman will present "Grandmothers' Stories" Saturday at 2:30 p.m.
Admission to the festival is $5 . Kids under 3 get in for $1.50. Senior citizens over 65 get a $1 discount off the admission price.
The Plant Plant is just off U.S. 11 between Christiansburg and Radford at 1367 Barringer Mountain Road. For more information, call 382-2653.
TIME'S A WASTIN': If you haven't seen the August exhibit at The Old Church Gallery in Floyd, you'll need to hurry. It ends this weekend.
"Local Heroes: Sports Stars in Floyd Since 1900" is the title of this collection curated by Roger Mannon, sports writer for The Floyd Press. The exhibit chronicles the history of local sports and some legendary personalities in Floyd County sports.
Did you know that Floyd had a NASCAR sanctioned racetrack in 1954? Curtis Turner, the local racing hero, once directed stock car races at the Floyd Speedway. Ray Hatcher put together some rare speedway items and photos for this exhibit.
Vernon Harris loaned several items of interest to Floyd Blue Sox fans. The Blue Sox was a local baseball team that produced two major leaguers, Don and Deward Williams. The team drew large crowds to games in Floyd from 1947 to 1957.
The exhibit wouldn't be complete without the photographs, trophies and team member profiles of the Lady Buffs 1994 State Basketball Champions. The display touts the accomplishments of the team and coach Alan Cantrell.
The Old Church Gallery will be open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It's at 110 Wilson Ave. off East Main Street one block from the stoplight in downtown Floyd. Admission is free.
FALL CALLS: The leaves aren't changing their colors yet, but that won't stop University Mall in Blacksburg from putting on its annual Fall Festival.
The festival starts today and runs through Sunday at the mall on University City Boulevard. Arts, crafts and more await you there.
On Saturday, WKEX will sponsor a remote broadcast with a live bluegrass band. Games, prizes and clowns are part of the fun, too.
HAVE YOU BEEN TO THE LIBRARY LATELY? If you're looking for art prints to enhance your surroundings, head for the library.
The Christiansburg and Blacksburg branches of Montgomery-Floyd Regional Library have lots of art prints on display now. You're invited to stop by and place your bids for your favorites. A silent auction of works from the library's collection and pieces donated by library patrons runs through Sept. 7.
Bid winners will be announced at "Art Event," a reception and live auction to be held Sept. 9, 5 to 7 p.m., at Virginia Tech's Donaldson Brown Hotel and Conference Center. The live auction will provide an opportunity to bid on original art by local artists.
The art sale is sponsored by Montgomery County Friends of the Library. Proceeds from the sale will be used to help furnish the Blacksburg library and buy computer desks for the Christiansburg library.
For more information on either the silent auction or the "Art Event," call Jo Brown at 382-6969.
by CNB