Martinsville Bulletin, Inc.
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Martinsville, Virginia 24115
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The Bob White covered bridge is one of two in Patrick County that will be celebrated at Saturday’s festival. (Bulletin file photo) |
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
By DEBBIE HALL - Bulletin Staff Writer
The fifth annual Woolwine Covered Bridge Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Visitors can expect live bluegrass performances as well as old-time and gospel music at the festival, hosted and manned by volunteers from the Woolwine Ruritan Club, Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department and Smith River Rescue Squad.
Music will be performed at two locations: The Pavilion, located in Pendleton’s field near Jacks Creek Covered Bridge, and the picnic shelter at Smith River Church of the Brethren, near Bob White Covered Bridge.
Entertainment at the Pavilion will include: Charlie and Mary Jo Leet at 10 a.m., Jason Harris and Friends at 11 a.m., Virginia Sky at noon, TenBrooks at 1 p.m., Zephyr Lightning Bolts at 2 p.m. and the Nunn Brothers at 3 p.m.
Performers at the Bob White site will include: Vernon Harris at 10:30 a.m., Jackie Belcher at 11 a.m., Glory Road singers at 11:30 a.m., Barbershop Grass at 12:30 p.m., Johnny Joyce and Over the Hill Gang at 1:30 p.m., and others at 2:30 p.m.
For the first time, a Cruise-In will be held at the festival. It will feature a display of antique cars and other unique and interesting vehicles.
The Cruise-In will be held near the Smith River Church of the Brethren. Hard-surface parking will be available, and participants are urged to arrive early.
A show of older cars — including Model As — also will be on display.
Antique Model-T cars, furnished and driven by the Shriners, will once again be a part of the festival and will offer rides to each covered bridge for a small fee.
Other activities include artisan, craft and food vendors; a duck race in the river near Jacks Creek Bridge; and a playland for youngsters.
Limited vendor space is still available. For more information, contact 692-5571.
The opening ceremony will begin at 10 a.m. near Bob White Covered Bridge, with various dignitaries present.
A Woolwine Elementary School student will perform the national anthem, and a local Boy Scout troop will present the colors.
Patrick County’s two covered bridges are among the remaining eight in Virginia.
The Virginia General Assembly recognized the bridges as well as the local festival during its 2007 session. Jacks Creek and Bob White covered bridges both cross the Smith River and are located just off Route 8 north in the Woolwine area.
Admission is free, and parking is available near both bridges. |
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