Published: June 17, 2008 08:53 pm      

Greater Richlands Area Festival has fun for all

RICHLANDS, Va. — A full week of festival fun is underway in downtown Richlands.

The Greater Richlands Area Festival opened Tuesday with the Great James H. Drew Exposition at the Richlands Police Department. The festival continues through Saturday with daily activities, including a quilt exhibit inside the police department, a student art exhibit, a local artist showcase, a fun pet show, a health and community resources day and nightly musical entertainment.

The inaugural Richlands Historic Walking Tour also got underway Tuesday, according to Richlands Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Ginger Branton.

Branton said the first participants in the walking tour Tuesday enjoyed information shared by local town historian Gaynelle Thompson.

The quilt exhibit continues today at the police department, and the carnival opens today at 4 p.m .

Daily activities are planned throughout the festival, including arts, crafts and food vendors. A battle of the bands winner will perform tonight from 8 to 10 p.m. followed by Shelby Jewell & the Bluegrass Kinsmen on Thursday night; Knuckle Duster, Friday night; and Caiged Angel, Saturday night.

Branton said all of the concerts start at 8 p.m., and all are being held at Flanary Field located behind the police department.

Branton said the Four County Transit will be running nightly from 7 to 10 p.m. to the downtown festival area. The cost for folks hoping to catch the bus into the downtown is only .25 cents per ride.

Two other popular festival events will return Saturday. The Health and Community Resources Fair Day will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. inside of the Richlands Police Department. The fun pet show also returns Saturday at 1 p.m. It will be held on the side law of the Richalnds Police Department.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com