Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 7, 1995 TAG: 9509080047
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: S. D. HARRINGTON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Live music, a children's fair, antique automobiles and lots of food are expected to bring 50,000 to 75,000 people from the Roanoke Valley and across the country, said David Nixon, spokesman for the Salem Jaycees, sponsors of the event.
New to the festival this year are hot-air balloon rides for the children.
But don't worry parents. The balloon is tethered to the ground, so the kids won't be going too far.
Vendor spaces have been expanded by about half a block this year, attracting about 450 craft and food vendors, Nixon said.
"It's one of the largest crafts fairs on the East Coast," Nixon said, with people coming from "virtually everywhere east of the Mississippi."
Festivities will kick off at 10 a.m. Saturday with crafts and food vendors stretching from just west of the College Avenue intersection to the Chestnut Avenue intersection. The streets will be closed until the festival ends at 5 p.m.
Entertainment stages will be at Library Square, the Courthouse and at Longwood Park. Musical groups will range from the folk and blues mix of Barb Martin and Rare Bird to the down-home banjo and guitar pickin' of the Craig County Boys.
And food vendors will offer an international flavor from French gourmet to the traditional festival treat, funnel cakes.
For car and motorcycle lovers, an antique auto show featuring more than 200 antiques, modifieds, rods and street machines will stretch from Thompson Memorial to Market Street, Nixon said.
The auto show is presented by the Roanoke Valley Antique Automobile Club.
Olde Salem Days was started in 1980 by the Chamber of Commerce but was later taken over by the Salem Jaycees.
It has become the Jaycees' primary fund-raising event, Nixon said. Much of the money raised is given to charities and used in other community projects.
by CNB