New Castle celebrated spring with fun event

On Saturday, May 10, the Town of New Castle was buzzing with activity. On one end of Main Street, the Clifton Store, the Old Hotel and Genealogy Library hosted a quilt show. Colorful pieces done by local hands graced the walls and tables on display. The fabrics told a story of old flour sacks turned into Sunday dresses and rugged work shirts, “remembering a few of those old shirts worn real hard,” commented one viewer. Memories of days gone by came flooding back, with a touch on the heart.

In front of the courthouse, the Revolutionary War was brought to life. A Revolutionary Day in New Castle was a creative scavenger hunt developed to share the historical experience. Participants were first asked “Are ye a Loyalist or a Patriot?” The “declaration of support” papers were provided, and in colonial times people often carried both, as a safety measure. The hunt led participants through 1775, meeting reenactors as a spinner, a toy maker, seamstress, and of course the Red Coats and the Militia, the local soldiers during colonial times. As colonists didn’t have currency yet, Spanish Doubloons were sometimes used, and if you claimed you were a “Patriot” on Saturday, you might have gotten a doubloon to buy a copy of the United States Constitution at The Emporium up the street.

The Revolutionary War reenactment was brought to the community by the Craig250 committee. Diane Givens, chair, and Tina Crawford, co-chair are seeking interested local residents to help plan the 250th Anniversary of United States Independence Day in 2026. Learn more about the local and state celebrations planned at http://www.va250.org. “We’re looking forward to an exceptional event,” Givens stated.

Further up Main Street the crowds gathered around the band, Blue Connection, with plenty of people setting up chairs to enjoy the day. The town park was filled with vendors and the Farmers Market was filled with crafts and good food for opening day. Many of the vendors were young entrepreneurs from the Kinder School, sharing handmade bookmarks, masks, candy and beaded creations.

The Farmers Market hosted several return vendors from 2024. Visitors could purchase eggs, chicken, lamb, and baked goods, along with young plants to take home to the garden. Phifer Crafts had colorful piles of reusable towels and other vendors had handcrafted wood creations, laser cut plaques and plenty of one-of-a-kind finds. Vendors arrive from all over Craig County, Giles County and even come over from Gap Mills, West Virginia. Visit the Farmers Market on Saturdays 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. for the 2025 season.