2016-05-20 18:38:07
Don’t let the long days of summer pass you by without checking out these upcoming fairs and festivals. There’s something for every age and interest!
Live music lovers can head to Staunton on June 25 for the Shenandoah Wine & Jazz Festival, featuring outdoor performances in a wooded creek setting by the Frontier Culture Museum. Admission includes a souvenir glass and tastings from a dozen wineries, along with craft and food vendors and a complimentary museum tour. To purchase advance tickets and learn about the musical performers, visit www.shenandoahvalleywinetrail.com or www.frontiermuseum.org.
On July 4, celebrate the birth of our nation colonial-style at the Port Royal Annual Independence Day Celebration, held along the shores of the Rappahannock River. Listen to a dramatic reading of the Declaration of Independence, enjoy 18th-century dancing and watch demonstrations of early trades and skills. There’s no cost for parking or admission, and your family can enjoy surrey carriage rides along with various games and activities. For details, go to www.historicportroyal.net.
Get a jump on fair season at the award-winning Caroline County Agricultural Fair from July 13-16! Test your abilities in pie-eating and hog-calling contests, then enjoy carnival rides and yummy treats. Macine Williams on the fair’s organizing committee was just awarded the Hazel M. Stanley Volunteer Award by the Virginia Association of Fairs for achieving a ten-fold increase in entries to the fair’s crafts and home goods competitions, along with boosting the number of sponsors and quality of awards for this time-honored fair feature. To learn more, visit www.carolinefair.com or their Facebook event page.
As summer heats up, head to Clarksville from July 14-16 for the 39th Annual Virginia Lake Festival, or LakeFest as it’s known locally. Held along the shores of Buggs Island Lake, this event was voted “One of the Top 20 Festivals in the Southeast” by the Southeast Tourism Society. Admission is free, and visitors can enjoy a juried craft show, hot-air balloons, live entertainment, children’s rides and more. Many of the nearly 100,000 visitors each year stay to watch the traditional “Gathering of the Boats” and fireworks show on Saturday evening. To learn more, check out the LakeFest event page on Facebook.
If the roar of an engine (be it car, plane or motorcycle) gets your heart pumping, then you’ll want to make tracks to Ingalls Field outside Hot Springs on July 16 for Wings and Wheels, the largest car and air show in the Allegheny Highlands. Check out vintage planes and skilled aerobatics, then stroll through antique, classic and muscle cars and cast a vote for your favorite. Carnival offerings include live music and vendors, along with tandem parachuting. Visit www.wingsandwheelsbathcountyva.com or call (540) 839-7202 to learn more.
As midsummer approaches, the Chincoteague Blueberry Festival from July 22-24 celebrates this tasty and healthful fruit while serving as the opening act for a week of festivities that includes the world-famous pony-swim, non-stop live music, unique arts and crafts and foods featuring blueberries. Visit www.ChincoteagueBlueberryFestival.com or the festival’s Facebook page for details.
Wild West fans: Saddle your horses and head south on July 23 for Victoria, Virginia’s Celebration of the National Day of the Cowboy. More information is online at www.victoriava.net and www.virginia.org.
Enjoy some summer fun at historic Belle Grove Plantation in Middletown! Aug. 5-7 will be “Art in the Barn” show and sale featuring local artists. Saturday, Aug. 27 is Wine Fest with tastings from Virginia wineries, live music, chef demonstrations, food and merchandise vendors. Tickets and more information at www.bellegrove.org.
Hosted by the Prince William Veterans Farm Club, the Prince William County Fair on Dumfries Road in Manassas from Aug. 12-20 will again feature “Fun4U” competitions and low-cost admission on several days. From a demolition derby to a cute baby contest, there’s everything you’d expect at one of Virginia’s largest county fairs. Visit www.pwcfair.com or the fair’s Facebook page for updates.
The Rockingham County Fair from Aug. 15-20 continues to impress fair-goers as well as the International Association of Fairs and Expositions. This fair once again was named the Top Agricultural Fair in its division in 2015. Whether it’s livestock shows or top-name concert entertainment, exciting rides or delicious fair food, the Rockingham County Fair is a winner!
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