Pam Dudding
Contributing writer
Spring is here, and so many people love to enjoy the outdoors, especially in scenic Craig County.
This year, the Tourism Commission is advertising an all-day event centered around the 5k Fun Run, to allow visitors and the local community to experience a “small town kind-a-day” in Craig County on Saturday, May 18.
Although everything won’t be on Main Street, they will all be main attractions for those participating.
There will also be food vendors set up including Buford’s BBQ and DG Ice serving frozen drinks. Locals will be playing live music too.
Handouts and event listings will be available for visitors on the day of the event at key locations.
The downtown merchants are putting together activities and prizes for children. At the library, you will find the Mapping Craig County Treasures set-up along with book sales and yard sale items with listings of the full days’ worth of activities.
“We are looking for groups or businesses to participate in this event with an activity that supports your business and our community,” Jennifer Lovejoy, a committee member, said. “It can be a promotional opportunity, a free activity, an educational exhibit or a service project. As a participant, you will be responsible for all aspects of your activity, including supervision and clean-up.”
The various events throughout the day will include:
•Community Yard Sale at 8 a.m.
•The First Craig County Ole Railroad 5K Fun Run at 10 a.m.
•Cow Bingo from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
•Holstein Log Cabin & Brick Hotel (to be announced)
•Small kids Power Wheels event at 6:30 p.m.
•Demolition Derby and the new Youth Lawn Mower expo at 7 p.m.
The yard sale is hosted by the Library and people can reserve a space to set up for a small fee of $10. Sign up and specific details can be obtained from the library. Call Letha Persinger at 864-8978 for more information or by emailing her craiglibrary@swva.net.
The Craig County Ole Railroad 5K Fun Run is expected to be an exciting time in Craig for many. It’s co-sponsored by Craig County Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Craig County Recreation & Conservation Association as a fund-raising event.
The run will meet at the Field of Dreams at 10 a.m. and continue on the abandoned railroad bed with views of mountains, farmland and creek scenery to enjoy. To register, call, internet or email; (540) 765-7787, craigcountyrun@gmail.com or https://runsignup.com/Race/VA/NewCastle/Olerailroad.
The unique 4-H Cow Bingo will take place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. beside the Holstein Cabin off Main Street. There will be a heifer in a stall ready to be released at 12:30 p.m. They will be drawing a square on the ground for every ticket sold. When the heifer is released onto the squares and wherever it “poops” will be the winning square. The prize will be 50 percent of the ticket money intake. The remainder 50 percent will go to the 4-H Club. For more information, contact Kathi Toelki on Facebook.
The Historical Society will have their three cabins open for visitors to tour and the New Castle Garden Club will offer tours of the beautiful butterfly garden.
Later in the evening, around 6:30 p.m., the small kids will have their Power Wheels Event in the ring at the Fairgrounds. Many tikes already know how to hit and run by age six. Nevertheless, they all seem to give a grin before they hit each other again.
At 7 p.m., the infamous Craig County Demolition Derby will start. However, this year, an old pastime is going to re-emerge – a lawn mower event! It will take place in between the derby heats.
Many remember the old days when they had lawn mower events and garden tiller races where some were so fast and gassed up that the men behind them couldn’t keep up.
Daniel Givens submitted the idea to the Fairgrounds Association at a recent meeting to do a lawn mower expo event for the older kids, ages 9-15, and if it is a success, they will consider making it a permanent event.
Organizer Nicole Dudding shared that there are specific rules to follow and the kids must have their parents’ permission. There will be no registration fee for the first expo.
Derby event classes include, stock, compact, full-size, small trucks/mini vans and small SUV’s.
It has been said many times that it’s hard to beat those Craig boys when they go to other counties derby’s.
Drivers can pre-register at the Craig County Treasurers Office starting Monday, May 6,and ending Friday, May 10, or by calling 864-5641. Entry fee is $25 and option to purchase one ringside parking pass is $30. (This applies to the first 15 drivers who register). Ringside parking pass sales will be available on Friday, May 17, at 7 p.m. at the Fairgrounds.
Derby rules and regulations can be obtained via the Fairgrounds Facebook page, Nicole Dudding at ndudding13@gmail.com or BJ Oliver at 540-765-7853. The gates will open at 5 p.m.
There is still time to bring your activity or fund raiser to the event. Contact Robin Menezes at 540-765-8139 by May 10 to be included in the listing of the day’s activities.
The team members organizing this special full day of events shared, “We hope you will support this important day for our county and ‘Have a small-town kind-a-day!’”
