Bedford readies for 26th annual CenterFest
By Casey Gillis on Sep. 27, 2007
The phone has been ringing off the hook this week in Bedford Main Street’s offices.
“It’s been crazy,” says executive director Linda Exley.
She and her staff are gearing up for Bedford CenterFest, a hugely popular annual festival now in its 26th year.
CenterFest kicks off at 7 p.m. Friday with a concert by regional band Key West and continues with a free street festival that runs all day Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. (Admission to the Friday night concert is $8, and kids 12 and younger get in free.)
“I think most of the people (who come) just enjoy the atmosphere and the small-town feeling,” Exley says.
On Saturday, there will be music and other entertainment on four different stages spread out across downtown Bedford. Some performers include Michael Lee, who does a Las Vegas-style revue of oldies; Mel Parker, a local country musician; Celtic band Generic Folk; the Footnotes Tap Ensemble, a group from Chapel Hill, N.C.; and the LeeAnne Ashley Studio of Dance.
Many of the performers “volunteer every year, and we just put them on the schedule,” Exley says.
She says there will also be over 200 vendors selling food, photography, pottery, paintings, stained glass and porcupine quill art, among other things.
Artists selling their wares will be lined up along North and South Bridge streets, and all the food vendors will be on West Main Street.
They’ve also added an art show, which will be on the front lawn of Main Street Methodist Church, and a car and motorcycle show, which will be held at the county administrative building and the Bedford City/County Courthouse, respectively.
The event is held rain or shine. For more information, call (540) 586-2148 or visit http://www.centertownbedford.com/page24aa.html.
IF YOU’RE GOING
WHAT: 26th Annual Bedford CenterFest
WHEN: 7 to 11 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Downtown Bedford
TICKETS: $8 for the Friday night concert (kids 12 and younger get in free). Free admission to Saturday’s events
INFO: (540) 586-2148
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