It’s time to mark your calendar for a vriety of upcoming events in central Virginia. First on the list is the Bedford Chamber of Commerce 2012 Beach Bash, held at Parkway Marina at Smith Mountain Lake. The event will be held from 2-9 p.m. on Saturday, August 25 and will include a wine and microbrew festival, a dance contest and two live bands. There will be shag music for all of you beach lovers. Tickets are available online at the link above for $20 or you can buy them at the gate for $25. Parkway Marina is located at 16918 Smith Mountain Lake Parkway in Huddleston.
Also at Smith Mountain Lake, plan ahead for the 24th Annual Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival on September 29-30. 27 area wineries and vineyards will be pouring for this festival, a favorite of SML locals. There will be three live bands and 85 juried food and craft vendors on site at LakeWatch Plantation in Moneta, just off Route 122 near Hales Ford Bridge, Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate with a discount for designated drivers. Saturday’s hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday’s hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can purchase tickets and learn more about events at the lake at the SML Chamber of Commerce website.
Lynchburg Events
Lynchburg will host several events of interest in the next month or so. Get! Downtown is a downtown street festival which will be held on Friday, September 7 on Main Street in Lynchburg. There will be food, music and fun as downtown Lynchburg welcomes area students back to town and celebrates the start of fall. Visit the Lynchburg tourist website or call (434) 528-3950 for more information about this event..
Lynchburg families look forward each year to the 36th Annual Day in the Park, held at Miller Park, located on Park Avenue. This year, Day in the Park will be held on Saturday, September 8 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event, sponsored by the Junior League of Lynchburg, features free exhibits, games, and educational activities for the entire family. Day in the Park has been Lynchburg’s family fun day for two generations.
Lynchburg’s 3rd Annual Bear and Wine Festival will be held on Saturday, September 15 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Riverfront Festival Park, located downtown on Jefferson Street. On the same day, the 40th Annual Lynchburg Art Festival will be held on the grounds of E.C. Glass High School at the corner of Memorial Avenue and Langhorne Road. The event, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature exhibits of artwork by local artists.
E.C. Glass High School will be the starting line for the 39th Annual Virginia 10 Miler, Lynchburg’s biggest road race of the year. The event will be held this year on Saturday, September 29 with an 8 a.m. start time. You can register at the link above for the 10 Miler and also for the Amazing Mile Children’s Run, which will take place on Friday, September 28 in downtown Lynchburg.
Roanoke Events
Labor Day will be celebrated on September 1 in downtown Roanoke with a parade and festival. The parade will follow Jefferson Street and the festival will run from noon to 5 p.m. Labor Day celebrates workers and is traditionally the kick-off to the election season; however, this year the election has been on the front burner for months. The Labor Day event will feature prizes for the bests float, best band, best-decorated car and more. There will also be ice cream and bouncy houses for the kids and vendors on hand with a variety of food and drinks for purchase.
Another great event in the Roanoke area is the 17th Annual Marine 5K Mud Run, which will be held on Saturday, September 15 at Green Hill Park. The individual 5K race begins at 9:15 a.m. with the Pollywog Jog at 10:30 a.m. and the team race at 11:30 a.m. The mud track is fun for all and a challenge. You will get very dirty but there are showers for washing after the race. Register at the link above and arrive at least 90 minutes early on race day.
Whatever your favorite way to spend the weekend, there’s something for you in central Virginia. If you’re looking for a date night activity, we have you covered. If running is your game, you’ve come to the right place. If you just want to have family fun, there are several choices too. So mark your calendars and plan ahead for some great fun and entertainment. You won’t want to miss a minute of the action.
