THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, July 12, 1995 TAG: 9507110127
SECTION: ISLE OF WIGHT CITIZEN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ALLISON T. WILLIAMS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SURRY COUNTY LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
More than 35,000 people are expected to roll into Chippokes Plantation State Park this weekend to celebrate the county's three largest industries: pork, peanuts and lumber.
The 20th Annual Pork, Peanut and Pine Festival, which has been named one of the top 20 festivals on the East Coast, runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
For several years, the Southeast Tourism Society has bestowed its Top 20 title on the festival. Every month, the Atlanta-based regional tourism marketing organization publishes a list of the 20 best festivals scheduled that month in 10 Southeast states: Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
``This festival has gotten pretty popular over the last few years. It's been written up in several magazines, including Southern Living,'' publicity coordinator Paul Harte said. ``People come from as far away as New York, . . . and many even plan their vacations around the festival.
``People enjoy coming out here. They bring their lawn chairs and sit amongst the cedar trees, listening to 18th century music and eating barbecue sandwiches.''
But the Pork, Peanut and Pine Festival is far more than that, Harte said.
This year, festival-goers will find two new events that highlight the ``fun side'' of Surry County's economic base: pig races and lumberjack exhibitions. In the pig races, six piglets run around a 30-foot oval track chasing an Oreo cookie. The lumberjack performances will include hachet-throwing contests and demonstrations by men using chain saws to build doll furniture.
Also new this year is an 18th century river encampment. Set up on the banks of the James River, the encampment will include free bateau rides.
More than 250 craft vendors are expected to offer their work at the festival, Harte added.
Although the Chippokes Mansion will be closed for the weekend, visitors will have access to the park's Farm and Forestry Museum, swimming pool, hiking trail, visitors center and bike trails.
Although there is no admission charge to the festival, parking is $5 per vehicle. MEMO: To reach Chippokes Plantation State Park, follow Virginia Route 10 north
from Smithfield. Turn right on Route 634 and right on Chippokes Park
Road. For more information, call 294-3625.
by CNB