The Virginian-Pilot
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, October 25, 1996              TAG: 9610230239
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER      PAGE: 04   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: Eric Feber 
                                            LENGTH:   48 lines

BEST BETS

Farm open house - Gum Tree Farm, 1900 Pocaty Road, will hold an open house this weekend. The hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon until 5 p.m. on Sunday.

The event will feature sheep, donkeys, horses, cows, goats, a baby pig, ducks and chickens. There will be hay rides, a pumpkin patch, sheep shearing and herding demonstrations and antique farm implements. In addition, basket weavers, spinners, woodcarvers, candle makers and stained glass artists will display their wares.

For more information on the event, call 421-9700.

Endless parade - The Indian River High School stadium will be filled with blaring brass bands, colorful marching units and stirring pennants and flags flapping in the breeze.

The 24th annual Tidewater Festival of Marching Bands, one of the most popular and prestigious marching band competitions on the East Coast, will take place Saturday.

The gates open at 2 p.m. The festival takes place from 3 to 9 p.m. at the Indian River High School stadium, 1969 Braves Trail, off of Military Highway.

Admission is $4; children under 10 are free.

Deadly art - The Ann Nicole Gallery, 1220 Executive Blvd., will present ``Day of the Dead Images or Dia de Muertos,'' from Nov. 1 through Nov. 30.

The exhibit will feature a display of photographs by Jeanie Drescher. Drescher's creations are black and white, sepia toned and hand-colored photographs taken in the Mexican village of Atlatlahucan.

More information is available by calling 547-2217.

Pageant applications - Applications are now being accepted for The Miss U.S. of A. Pageant, which will take place Nov. 17 at a venue to be announced.

For applications or more information, call 485-3636 or 482-7713.

Shakespeare Summer - The Governor's School for the Arts Theatre Department will present William Shakespeare's comedy ``A Midsummer Night's Dream'' tonight and Saturday and Nov. 1 and 2 at 8 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Nov. 3.

All performances take place at the GSA Black Box Theatre, 254 Granby St., Norfolk.

Special visiting artist Heidi Robbins of Michigan's Interlochen Center for the Arts will direct a cast of talented students.

All tickets are $5. For more information, call 441-2905. by CNB