ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, June 14, 1996 TAG: 9606140023
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
COLUMN: OUT & ABOUT
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS-BANKS
You say you've been racking your brains for the perfect Father's Day outing?
Rack no more!
The Wilderness Road Regional Museum in Pulaski County's historic Newbern is the site of the annual Civil War weekend. Bring Dad on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. or Sunday from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.
Museum attractions include Civil War art, music, photographs and herb displays. Folks from Passionflower Herb and Perennial Nursery will explain how herbs were used in the period, and some potted specimens will be for sale.
Tina and Jon Shanklin, a Snowville couple, will dress in outfits of the time and entertain you with living history scenes. Roanokers Wendy and Brent Thompson and children will be camping on the museum grounds and talking to visitors about Civil War times. Wendy Thompson also will demonstrate hat-making and lead games for youngsters.
The museum also has a selection of local history books for sale, including "The Battle of Cloyd's Mountain." It's the perfect gift if Dad's a Civil War buff.
To get to Newbern from Interstate 81, take Exit 98 in Pulaski County.
FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND II: Mountain music, country cookin' and feats of strength - what more could Dad want?
It's all at the Wintergreen Farm Museum in Floyd. The farmstead is 2 miles south of town on U.S. 221. This weekend's festival starts at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Horse pulls, featuring contests for singles and teams, are among the special events both days. Music by local bluegrass bands, children's activities and plenty of home-cooked goodies are waiting, too.
Farming demonstrations will let you see how rural families lived during the turn of the century. Wintergreen Farm has an authentic workshop, a log barn and a restored turn-of-the-century farmhouse. Craft and antique vendors will have items for sale at the site.
Rain won't stop the festivities, so bring your lawn chair and plan on spending a whole day - or two. Admission is $2 per person or $5 per carload. Kids under 12 get in free.
MORE FESTIVAL FUN: Pearisburg's 12th annual Festival Around Town is Saturday at the community center. As always, it's sponsored by the Pearisburg Business and Community Association.
For the first time, the festival will offer a wellness fair featuring free screenings and services provided by local health care agencies. It will be set up in the cafeteria.
Back by popular demand is the Mayberry Trivia Contest. Whiz kids who know everything there is to know about "The Andy Griffith Show" will compete for some great prizes, including Mayberry memorabilia. David Browning, a Barney Fife impersonator from Bristol, is the host.
Here's the festival entertainment schedule:
* 10-10:30 a.m. - Bobby Lilly Magic Show
* 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. - Avon Fashion Show
* 11-11:30 a.m. - Giles Symphonic Chorale
* 11:30 a.m.-noon - Bill Whipple
* Noon-1 p.m. - Jerry Wimmer
* 1-2 p.m. - The Saddle Light Dancers
* 2-3 p.m. - Delnora Reed
* 3-3:30 p.m. - The Barney Show
* 3:30-4 p.m. - Mayberry Trivia Contest
* 4-5 p.m. - Jerry Wimmer
* 5-6 p.m. - Blended Grass
* 6:30-7:30 p.m. - Vic Baker Band
Other attractions Saturday include kids' activities, arts and crafts exhibits and enough good food to have you saying shazaam!
WARM WEATHER: It not only brings out the best in us, it brings the best of us out!
The summer outdoor concerts are in full swing now. Tonight, you can catch Simple Gifts in Blacksburg. The popular local group plays American, British and Irish folk music, as well as some South American tunes and original songs.
Tonight's concert starts at 6 p.m. on Henderson Hall lawn adjacent to College Avenue in downtown Blacksburg. Admission is free.
On Tuesday, you'll want to catch the first of a series of concerts in Radford's Bisset Park. The McKenzies - Woody and Marcia - will play for this opener. The couple performs a range of styles from folk to swing to jazz and ragtime. They also do some novelty and children's songs, as well as originals.
The Bisset Park concerts are scheduled for Tuesdays through Aug. 27 at the gazebo. They start at 7 p.m., and admission is free.
Remember to bring blankets or lawn chairs for these outdoor treats. Pack a picnic, too.
WRITE STUFF: Several talented writers will give public readings at Radford University in the next two weeks. They'll be visiting the 19th annual Highland Summer Conference, a workshop focusing on Appalachian culture and writing.
Bill Brown, whose articles, reviews and poems have been published in more than 50 books, magazines and journals, will read Tuesday. A high school teacher in Tennessee, Brown has written three books. His latest book of poems, "The Art of Dying," will be published by Sow's Ear Press this year.
On Thursday, the Selu Writers will read original works. The group of five were founders of Radford University's Selu Writers Retreat. Collectively, they write fiction, poetry and non-fiction.
The readings start at 7:30 p.m. in lounge A of Heth Hall. Admission is free, but you may buy books if you wish. At Thursday's program, Appalachian bookseller George Brosi will offer a wide selection of titles.
LENGTH: Long : 112 linesby CNB