Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, May 13, 1990 TAG: 9005090379
SECTION: DISCOVER THE NEW RIVER VALLEY PAGE: 37 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DONNA ALVIS NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Planners already are busy mapping out the schedule of events for fairs and festivals around the valley this year. Make notations on your calendar for these upcoming fetes:
Early in the summer you can catch the Pearisburg Festival Around Town in Giles County. This year's festival will be June 16.
The annual festival features arts and crafts booths, homemade foods, contests and live entertainment. Special events for children will be offered from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Children may participate in historical games planned by organizers for the activities.
Organizers also say there will be plenty of variety this go round. Rock and country music will be featured in the entertainment lineup and craftsmen from near and far will bring goods to show and sell.
The festival is sponsored by the Pearisburg Merchants Association. Proceeds will be used to establish a festival fund.
For information about the Pearisburg Festival Around Town, call Sharon Cecil at 921-1324.
Radford Riverfest will be held July 14 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Bisset Park. This second annual festival put on by the Radford Chamber of Commerce will feature a "Quadrathlon" with swimming, canoeing, running and biking at the park.
The activities also include a rafting race down the New River and a barbecue contest for local folks who love to cook out.
Entry forms for those wishing to participate in Radford Riverfest are available by calling 639-2202.
Always a treat in downtown Blacksburg is the annual Steppin' Out festival. This year the activities will take place Aug. 3 and 4, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., on College Avenue, Jackson Street and a portion of Draper Road.
Steppin' Out features live entertainment, children's games, local crafts and exotic food. The Downtown Merchants of Blacksburg, sponsor of the festival, sells an annual edition of the popular Steppin' Out T-shirt and operates a strawberry shortcake and sundae booth. Proceeds from the sales benefit downtown renovation projects.
More information on Steppin' Out may be obtained by calling Mary Riley at 951-4200.
The New River Valley Fair opens Aug. 2 and continues through Aug. 11 (closed Aug. 5) at the New River Valley Fairgrounds on Virginia 100 in Dublin.
The annual fair has various exhibits of agriculture, flowers and crafts. Entertainment always features some big names in country music. Past performers have included Jerry Reed, Mel McDaniel and Jerry Clower.
This year's headliner is Marie Osmond who will perform Aug. 2. Other well-known musicians include Mickey Gilley on Aug. 7, Shenandoah on Aug. 8 and Billy Joe Royal on Aug. 10. There will be two shows each night at 7 and 9 p.m.
Gospel Music Night, Aug. 3, will include performances by The McKaneys and Kenny Hinson of the original Nashville Hinsons.
Other attractions for the week-long fair are magic shows by illusionist Eddie Armrister of Wytheville, the Miss New River Valley beauty pageant and an antique tractor pull and horse pulling competition.
For more information about the New River Valley Fair, call Thomas "Bud" Walsh, 674-5421.
When the leaves are turning gold and the smells of autumn reflect the changing season, area festivals also reflect the seasonal flavor. In September, Christiansburg holds an annual Wilderness Trail Festival to benefit the Christiansburg-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.
The event features an auction with items donated by local merchants, arts and crafts exhibitors, food vendors and lots of live entertainment. Christiansburg's Main Street is closed for this festival.
This year's festival will run for two days, Sept. 8 and 9, with a special concert planned for Sept. 9.
More information about activities is available by calling Kathy Mantz at 382-4251.
Count Pulaski Day will be held in October in downtown Pulaski. The annual festival celebrates the heritage of Pulaski County.
The celebration includes a parade, historic displays and artistic presentations by the Fine Arts Center for the New River Valley and the Daughters of the American Revolution, children's entertainment and arts and crafts.
The Pulaski County High School Golden Cougar Band will be hosts for a band festival involving up to 20 bands at this year's festival.
As always, there will be plenty of tasty treats in the food booths set up by local participating organizations.
The event is sponsored by the Count Pulaski Celebration Committee.
by CNB