New Castle is the place to be this Saturday, Oct. 12.
The 41st Fall Festival officially starts at 9 a.m., but country breakfast will begin in the Old Brick Hotel dining room at 7 a.m. and vendors will be setting up a variety of crafts, exhibits and souvenirs on Main and Court Streets.
Antique cars are expected to fill up Middle Street. Each driver will receive a souvenir plaque and drawings will happen throughout the day. The Marshall Reynolds Antique Car show is sponsored again this year by South Main Auto in Blacksburg.
Many first-time vendors are expected this year, offering festival-goers a variety of products and services.
Health conscious folks can get a massage and acupuncture treatment, then donate blood. Gardeners will want to visit the New Castle Garden Club booth and Humble Hen Nursery. The new Craig County Farmers Market will be open with produce and crafts. Churches and community groups such as the VFW, Gideons, and Rescue Squads will be raising funds and promoting their causes.
Children will want to visit the 4-H booth on Court Street and also the FFA lot behind the hotel to enjoy the bouncy house, pumpkin tic-tac-toe, and feed sack races. Pumpkin contests will start at 1:00 and at 2:00. A farm petting zoo and raffle baskets will add to the fun, all provided by FFA students from Craig County High School. Bryan Fritts, blacksmith, will demonstrate his craft nearby.
In addition to breakfast at the Old Brick Hotel, homemade fried apple pies will be sold from the hotel porch with hot coffee available. At 11:30 a.m., pinto beans and cornbread will be served in the dining room and BBQ sandwiches will be on the porch. Tickets will be handed out to diners during breakfast and lunch for prizes valued at $40; drawings at 4:30 p.m.
Opening ceremonies on the Gopher Market Stage will begin at 9 a.m. A highlight this year will be the procession of VFW members who will walk the American flag from the Post Office to their booth in front of the courthouse. Craig County Girl Scouts Troop #793 will lead the Pledge, as VFW members raise the flag in the courthouse yard. The National Anthem will be sung by the Choir from Craig County High School.
Bring a chair and enjoy the live music on Gopher Market Stage with the Early Family, Blue Connection, and Ella Folk & Cole Winebarger. Blue Connection will accompany the Flatfoot Contest at 1:00. Children will perform first, followed by adults. Money prizes and medals will be awarded.
Pumpkin season continues at Joes Tree Farm on Rt 42, 5110 Cumberland Gap Rd. Visit their gift shop and enjoy a hayride.
The day ends with a Demolition Derby at Craig County Fairgrounds. Gates open at 5pm. Admission is $10 for adults, $5 ages 6-12 and children under 5 are free. Concessions will be provided this time by CCRCA. Powerwheels and lawnmowers will kick off the derby with the main event beginning at 7pm.
-Submitted by Craig County Tourism Commission
Courtesy photos
Music on Gopher Market Stage, Main & Court Street
9:15 a.m. – Craig County High School Choir
10 a.m. – The Early Family
12 p.m. – Blue Connection
1 p.m. – Flat Foot Dance Competition
2:30 p.m. – Ella & Cole
4:30 p.m. – Raffle Drawings
