Published: July 22, 2008 05:18 pm            

Main Street Heritage Festival headlines busy regional fair & fun schedule

Summer may have reached its mid-point, but there is certainly no shortage of things to do across the region.

In fact, there is plenty of festival fun to be found across the region for the next three weeks, including some big events in Tazewell and Mercer counties.

First up is the 2008 Main Street Heritage Festival, which is already underway in downtown Tazewell with nightly musical and entertainment acts. The activities continue today with a performance by “Steele Cookin” at 7 p.m. at the mini park and the “West Jeans Blues Band” at 8 p.m. The “Blue Voo Doo” band will perform Thursday at 7 p.m. followed by Kenny Mann and “Liquid Pleasure” at 8 p.m.

The fun continues on Friday with a performance by “Phil Dirt and the Dozers” on Main Street at the mini park at 8 p.m. The festival kicks into full gear on Saturday July 26, with vendors on Main Street; horse and carriage rides through Tazewell’s historic district from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; inflatable rides for the kids and electronic bull rides from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; a performance by variety entertainer Mark Lippard from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; a performance by “Phil Dirt and the Dozers” at 3 p.m.; the Green Dog 5K one-mile walk beginning at Tazewell High School at 5:30 p.m.; the Green Dog 5-K walk beginning at Tazewell High School at 6 p.m.; and a performance by the “Right on Band” at 7:30 p.m.

The Bland County American Indian Heritage weekend also gets underway Friday in Bland County. The festival features the All Nations Green Corn Festival and Gathering, and will include dancing, crafts, food and storytelling. All of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Wolf Creek Indian Village.

We then have the Mercer County Fair, which begins on Friday, Aug. 1 and continues on Saturday, Aug. 2 with a full slate of activities and events. We are still waiting to receive a full schedule of fair activities and events for the Mercer County Fair, and should have information for a story very soon.

Plus, we have the return of the popular Downtown Street Fair in Bluefield on Friday, Aug. 1, as well as the Lemonade Days Festival in South Bluefield on Saturday, Aug. 2. The twin festivals in downtown Bluefield and South Bluefield promise fun for all ages. Plus, we get free lemonade — regardless of whether that stubborn thermometer at the Mercer County Airport ever hits the magic 90 degree mark or not.

Next up is the Tazewell County Fair, which will be held Aug. 10 through 16 at the Tazewell County Fairgrounds. A full week of festival fun is on tap in Tazewell County, including the popular demolition derby and motorsports competition; the return of professional wrestling to the fairgrounds; a battle of the bands competition; a gospel show featuring the McKamey’s and the Jackson Family; a performance by Gene Watson and his band; an antique truck show; rodeo and horse shows; daily carnival rides; a fishing exhibit; livestock shows; go-kart racing; a figure-eight derby ice cream eating contest; and much more.

And there is still more fun on tap for Tazewell County. The Tazewell County Airport’s 10th Anniversary Air Show will be held on Saturday, Aug. 9. All of the air show attractions will be held at the county airport at Claypool Hill, including skydiving acts, vintage aircraft performances, remote control aircraft demonstration, aerial aerobatics, comedic stunts and other contemporary and vintage aircraft that will be on display as part of this year’s air show.

As you can see, we have a busy two weeks of festival fun scheduled across southern West Virginia and Southwest Virginia. With gas prices still ridiculously high, there is no better time to travel locally, and to support our local fairs and festivals. So if you have never been to the Tazewell County Airshow, the Tazewell County Fair, the Tazewell Main Street Moments Festival or even the Mercer County Fair, now is the time to experience the best of the two Virginias without having to travel far or bust your wallet in the process courtesy of lousy gas prices.

Charles Owens is the Daily Telegraph’s city editor. Contact him at cowens@bdtonline.com.

        

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