A preview of Interesting things going on up, down and around the Parks and Drives. With the slowdown in the economy, our National Parks probably will see a pick up in visitations.So much to see and do and a lot of it free or at a very low cost.
Dear Traveler
This is the sixth issue of our events newsletter about things going on near the Skyline Drive and the Blue Ridge Parkway. They are separated into 12 sections to match up with the map sections on our web site.
http://www.BlueRidgeSkyline.com
Starting with the Northern Section of the Skyline Drive including Winchester and Front Royal and working our way south to the Southern end near Cherokee NC and then on to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge Tenn.
We sent out the March issue on time but in April I had to have a knee replacement and was unable to get back to the computer in time to do the April Issue.
Winchester, Front Royal, Middletown and the Northern Section of the Skyline Drive.
Front Royal
Virginia Wine & Craft Festival
Downtown Front Royal
Main & Chester Streets
Front Royal, VA 22630
Come and enjoy wine tastings from 18 of the best of Virginia wineries. Over 100 artisans and crafters from all over the east coast display fine handmade jewelry, candles, pottery, art, wood and iron works. If you are hungry, there will be a variety of regional foods, including the best BBQ in the Shenandoah Valley, or you may wish to step inside to one of our many restaurants located at the event site. Children can enjoy rides, games, and face painting. Live entertainment to please everyone's taste. Admission is $15 in advance or $20 at the gate for those who wish to sample the wine or general admission is $2.00. Free parking. No Pets Allowed.
Date/Hours:
Saturday, May 16, 2009 (10:00 AM-6:00 PM)
Admission Fee: $20 Wine Tasting Adm
Telephone: Phone: (540) 635-3185
See the Web Site
Harrisonburg and Luray section of the Skyline Drive
Harrisonburg
Valley Fest
9th Annual Shenandoah Valley Beer & Wine Festival
Saturday May 23 11 Am to 7 Pm
Massanutten Resort
See web page
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Green Valley Book Fair
May 9th through 25th 9Am to 7PM
Located just south of Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, the Green Valley Book Fair is a discount book outlet store featuring over 500,000 new books at incredible bargain prices. Save 60% to 90% off retail on over 30,000 different titles in more than 60 different categories - including fiction, history, health and self-help, children's books, religion, science, sports, cooking, gardening, crafts, art, reference, nature and outdoors, and more. 800-385-0099
Web Site here
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Luray
Shenandoah National Park Ranger Programs ..Daily April 2nd thru
Oct 27th
Region: Shenandoah Valley
Locality: Page County
Skyland Resort and the Big Meadows
3655 US Highway 211 East
Luray, VA 22835
Ranger Programs such as hikes, walks, tours of historic Massanutten Lodge, Junior Ranger Programs, Birds of Prey are offered at Skyland Resort and the Big Meadows area from April through October. The traditional campfire programs are a popular summertime event. These programs open the doors to explore the world of the Blue Ridge Mountains and to learn the stories of visitors and residents now and in the past. Check the Park's web site, the site bulletin or Shenandoah Overlook newspaper for the current schedule.
See Park web site here
Staunton and Waynesboro where the Skyline Drive and The Blue Ridge Parkway meet
Staunton
Guided Walking Tours of Historic Staunton
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
24 North Coalter Street
Staunton, VA 24401
Discover Staunton, the Queen City of the Shenandoah Valley, on a free walking tour guided by Historic Staunton Foundation volunteers. Tours last 2 hours and trace Staunton's development from frontier settlement to booming 19th century commercial center. Stroll through four of Staunton's five Historic Districts as your guide describes the town's history and its beautifully restored architecture.
See dates of Walking Tours
Road condition information from the National Park Service
Skyline Drive
Blue Ridge Parkway
Lexington, Natural Bridge, Bedford and Buchannan sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway
Lexington
Lexington has a bunch of one day events in May so we thought we would try adding the monthly calendar to see if it was more useful than picking out one or two events. What do you think?
May events Calendar for Lexington
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Buchannan
Faith Festival
Fairgrounds on Lowe Street
Saturday, May 23, 2009 (10:00 AM-4:00 PM)
Faith Festival is a family focused non-denominational Christian festival in Buchanan, Virginia. There will be food and fun for the whole family including a fishing tournament and a punt pass and kick competition and live music all day.
There will be a Memorial Day Ceremony starting at 12:30pm with the presentaton of the color guard, James River High School Band will play the national anthem and there will be a guest speaker.
+Buchanan Voluntary Fire Department will be running concessions for this event.
+United States Army will be setup with a booth
ADMISSION IS FREE
Roanoke, Salem & Smith Mt. Lake
Roanoke
Featuring the Taubman Museum of Art
So many things going on aththis new museum that we again decided to just add the May Calendar. Hope you enjoy the visit.
May calendar here
Blacksburg, Christiansburg, Radford, Wytheville and Floyd
Floyd
Benefit Concert for Floyd's New Park
May 23rd
You won't want to miss this concert to benefit the Warren G. Lineberry Memorial Park. This beautiful new community park is planned for the field near the Floyd Country Store and donations are needed. Sponsored by the Partnership for Floyd, the concert will include great food, a bake sale and a silent auction. Among the bands appearing will be Windfall, The Comptons, Mac & Jenny Traynham and Statement. Auction and bake sale: 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m. $10/Advance; $12/Door. Tickets available at the Floyd Chamber of Commerce or from any Partnership member. Floyd County High School Auditorium, 721 Baker Street (Baker Street is off State Rd 8 across from the Floyd Country Store).
Floyd May Calendar
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Wytheville
Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre
The King and I
May 7 - June 28
East versus West make for a dramatic, richly textured, uplifting tale of enormous fascination! Anna, a widow from Wales, arrives at the royal palace in Bangkok, Siam, summoned by King Mongkut to serve as tutor to his many children and wives. The king, wishing to learn and absorb western knowledge, (despite his head-strong demeanor), sometimes conflicts over how to reconcile western ways with his own. This Tony Award Winner features Rodgers & Hammerstein's timeless favorites "I Whistle a Happy Tune", "Getting to Know You", "Shall We Dance?" and "Hello Young Lovers". This musical is a theatrical classic!
Visit the Web Site here
Galax Hillsville and Independence
GALAX
16th Annual Car Show in the Park
May 23, 2009
8 am - 3:30 pm
Twin County Region, AACA, car club along with Twin County United Way and Grayson National Bank sponsor an annual car show that has classes for vehicles of all makes, models and years. Call 276 236-6197 for an entry form or download a form at http://clubs.hemmings.com/tcraaca/
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Smoke on the Mountain
State Barbecue Championship
July 17-19th 2009
Imagine being part of the state barbecue championship in the beautiful mountain town of Galax, Virginia! Known worldwide as the Capital of Bluegrass Music and the famous Old Time Fiddler's Convention - now's your chance to spill a little barbecue sauce into this music-loving community. Come & Enjoy some BBQ!
Web Site Here
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Hillsville
Memorial Day Flea Market
May 22 - 25
Make your plans to join us in Hillsville, Virginia for the annual Memorial Day Weekend and Labor Day Weekend Flea Markets. Lacy Bowman's Festival Market is located on Route 58, a prime location in Hillsville, Virginia for shopping for antiques, collectibles, crafts, art and great food and concessions.
Both festivals last 4 big days! If you are in the market for antiques, the Hillsville Flea Market is the place for you. Please browse our website for more info.
See Web Site Here
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Independence
Peach Bottom Farm Fiddle & Strings Camp
June 15-19 2009
9:00 - 5:00
PEACH BOTTOM FARM FIDDLE & STRINGS CAMP JUNE 15 - 19 2009 A rare opportunity to experience Appalachia, its music & heritage at the pastoral setting of Peach Bottom Farm. Intensive, intimate and funfilled teaching each day with our staff of local and Internationally known knowledgable and notable Instructors. Styles taught include; Appalachian Old-Time, Bluegrass, Canadian, Irish, Scottish, Swing and Contest-style. All ages and abilities welcome.
Visit Web Site
Mt Airy, Sparta, Elkins and Wilkesboro NC
Elkin
The 8th Annual Yadkin Valley Wine Festival
Saturday, May 16, 2009
11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Elkin Municipal Park
Elkin, North Carolina
Come taste the wines of the Yadkin Valley! The Yadkin Valley Wine Festival is open to the public, including families with children (for your safety and the safety of others, please leave your pets at home). Craft vendor displays and music will take place adjacent to the wine tasting area. There will be a roving Bacchus and activities for the youngsters.
Entertainment for the 2009 Festival will commence with music by the Natty Bo Duo from 11a.m. through 12:30p.m. Big Daddy Love will play from 1p.m. through 2:30p.m. Between music there will be a grape stomp for the kids in attendance and some other special events. Headliner band Legends of Beach (with Jackie Gore) will perform from 3:00 until 6:00p.m.
More info Here
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Elkin NC
Nationally Ranked Hotel
If you are in the Elkin, NC area, do your self a favor and check out the new Hampton Inn at Shelton Vineyards, rated #2 in the USA recently.
Hampton Inn & Suites at Shelton Vineyards has been designated as one of the best in the world by the 2008 Connie Awards from the Hilton Hotel Corporation. Being specifically recognized for its loyalty and quality assurance. Serving up more than just a comfortable bed and continental breakfast, this Hampton features some Jacuzzi suites among its 102 rooms, a heated pool, modern exercise room and the chains only wine bar. Our suites were created especially for brides and out of town guests, designed for the perfect wedding day and beyond. A honeymoon paradise....newly weds are sure to book our whirlpool suite complete with 36 square foot rain shower and massage heads! You're out of town guests will be made to feel right at home with our spacious one room suites with cloud nine bedding, microwave, refrigerator, in room movies and more! Call (336) 353-9400, email curtis.largen@hilton.com or visit us on the web at www.hamptoninn.hilton.com.
Boone,Blowing Rock ,Jefferson and Banner Elk
Blowing Rock
Jun 11 - 14, 2009
Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show - Saddlebred
Location: Tate Show Grounds
828.295.4700
The Blowing Rock Charity Horse Show is one of the oldest horse show events in the country and has been a Blowing Rock tradition since 1923. Admission.
More Information
Flat Rock, Henderson and Black Mountain
Flat Rock
May 6 - May 24
Flat Rock Playhouse presents Ring of Fire, celebrates the music of Johnny Cash, featuring 38 hits, $32, evenings 8:15PM, matinees 2:15PM, Flat Rock, 828-693-0731 or 866-732-8008
Theater Web Site here
Asheville
Asheville
Tradition/Innovation: American Masterpieces of Southern Craft & Traditional Art,
May 22, to Aug. 23 2009
an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, is intended to acquaint Americans with the best of their cultural and artistic legacy. "Through this exhibit and the online and educational materials that we'll present, we want to introduce people in the South to master artists and craftspeople living and working in their own communities," said Gerri Combs, Executive Director of the Southern Arts Federation. "The incredible diversity of these individuals and the objects they create will give people a new window into the traditions of the South's many cultural communities and the vibrant contemporary craft movement in the region." Among the artists in the exhibit are six recipients of the National Endowment for the Arts' National Heritage Fellowship, the country's highest honor for traditional artists. The combination of contemporary craft and traditional art in this exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to explore the "threads" between two different approaches to creating artwork, and also to compare the approaches of traditional and contemporary artists.
Time:
10:00 AM-05:00 PM
Location: Asheville Art Museum
2 So. Pack Square
Asheville , NC 28801
Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge and Sevierville,TN
Gatlinburg
SpringFest
March 11 - June 7
Arts, Entertainment, Food, History
Description:
During the three-month Springfest celebration that begins in early March and continues into the second week of June, visitors witness Gatlinburg's transformation into spring when the city's streets overflow with baskets of beautiful blooming flowers and plants. Pansies, daffodils, tulips, mandevillas, bougainvilleas, lantanas, scaveolas and wave petunias are among the many varieties of flowers seen throughout the city. Live entertainment can be found along sidewalks, adding a festive flair to the time-honored Downtown Parkway stroll.
Members of Great Smoky Arts & Crafts Community display unique handcrafted wares as they gather at the Gatlinburg Convention Center to host their annual Easter Arts & Crafts show Wednesday, April 8 through Saturday, April 11.
On Easter morning, April 12, join in the local tradition and attend Ober Gatlinburg's 12th Annual Easter Sunrise Service enhanced by the beauty of the Smokies. Free tram rides to the mountain top begin at 6:15 a.m. and continue in 15 minute intervals until the service begins at 7 a.m. Complimentary parking at the resort will be provided for those who prefer to drive. A breakfast buffet will be waiting and available at the Ober Gatlinburg Restaurant from 7 a.m. until 10:30 a.m.
See the rest here
Some special links to make your visit more worthwhile
Chestnut Creek School of the Arts
Chestnut Creek School of Arts preserves and promotes the cultural heritage of southwest Virginia by fostering artistic and individual growth through classes in visual and performing arts, heritage and contemporary craft, and traditional music.
Visit the Web Site
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The Crooked Road
Craft
Virginia's Heritage Music Trail
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Friends of The Blue Ridge Parkway
Friends of The Blue Ridge Parkway web site
ODDS and ENDS Some interesting things
Birthday Calculator Prepare to be shocked.
Go Here
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YouTube show of the Model T Ford...100 years History
See it here
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The Newseum displays these daily newspaper front pages in their original, unedited form
Always current for toady.
Visit it here