Festival attracts kids of all ages
By Jon Busdeker on Jun. 21, 2007
The Nelson County Summer Festival — now in its 15th year — will take place Saturday and Sunday.
On the last full weekend of June every year, this nonprofit, family-friendly event attracts thousands of music appreciators to the shaded front lawn of historic Oak Ridge Estate for a weekend packed with performers and a full schedule of activities from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
This year, the entertainment begins at 11 a.m. Saturday with music from Barbara Martin & Mac Walter. At 12:30 and 3:30 p.m., The Deanna Bogart Band will return to the Nelson County Summer Festival stage with two sets of rocking jazz with sax, piano and vocals. At 2 and 5 p.m., Bluesman Big Bill Morganfield (son of Blues icon Muddy Waters) and his swinging band will shake the audience with solid dance tunes.
On Sunday, the musical excitement continues. At 11 a.m., Jay & Morwenna, a Charlottesville duo performing a snappy mix of guitar and violin, will open the day. At 12:30 p.m., Kevin Davis and his ever-popular Ban Caribe will set a tropical tone sure to get everyone dancing. And as a grand finale, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., expect to be wowed by the renowned, Washington, D.C.-based Seldom Scene, contemporary bluegrass with deep roots.
But the festivities go far beyond the lineup on the music stage. At the Festival Marketplace, shoppers will appreciate the browsing opportunity with numerous artisans and merchants displaying quality wares, from jewelry to birdhouses to pottery and more.
And no matter if you consider yourself a connoisseur of fine cuisine or just plain hungry, you’ll love the tantalizing array of delicious food offered at numerous booths in the Festival Food Court, and even cold beer from local brewery kegs.
Eight award-winning local vineyards (Afton Mountain Vineyard, Cardinal Point Vineyard, Wintergreen Winery, Mountain Cove Vineyard, Hilltop Berry Farm Winery, Veritas Winery and Delfosse Vineyard, along with Amherst County’s Rebec Vineyard) will be set up to serve samples of their most popular blends to wine-loving adults at the festival for a $5 tasting fee, which includes a souvenir wine glass.
Whether your children want to watch a lamb or piglet in the Rural Living area or prefer a pony ride in the Kids’ Fest arena, country surprises and experiences are everywhere at the festival. Kids’ Fest is a zone bursting with activities for the younger set, which might include anything from puppet-making, bead jewelry projects, Tom Sawyer fence-painting, an obstacle course, to a giant colorful parachute (with its own array of games) — all under the guidance of the parents, faculty, and students of North Branch School in Afton.
The musical circle jam has been a favorite happening since the birth of the festival. Lively interaction between talented performers and “the rest of us” is what the circle jam is all about. So dig up, dust off, and pack along your instrument, for some spontaneous music-making.
Always entertaining and educational, the Rural Living Tents feature the everyday aspects of country life not always available for public view. One might see a booth detailing the dangers of farming and recommended safety techniques, or a participant sharing sustainable agriculture methods. And the “Almost Home Pet Adoption Center” can always be counted on to introduce some fuzzy faces to potential new owners.
Frequently on display are soap-making demonstrations, an exposition of honey bees hunkering down to work on their sticky-sweet creation, and logs supporting the growth of shitake mushrooms. Festival-goers are likely to meet a fiber artist spinning wool into yarn, or learn about goats valued for their wool or milk (used in soaps and cheeses). And visitors shouldn’t miss finding the team of giant Percherons, owned by Heidi and Wiley Cochran. The enormous equine duo will be busy both days, pulling wagonloads of passengers on a circular route past the Oak Ridge mansion, gardens and greenhouse for a nostalgic view from all sides.
The Nelson County Summer Festival is a nonprofit event.
If You’re Going
WHAT: The 15th annual Nelson County Summer Festival
WHEN: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, rain or shine
WHERE: Nelson County’s historic Oak Ridge Estate (south of Lovingston, 35 miles between Lynchburg and Charlottesville, off U.S. 29 on Virginia 653)
TICKETS: $15 in advance, $20 at the gate; under 12 are free with a paying adult. Lynchburg ticket locations are Givens Books and the Basket Case, or call the Nelson County Visitor Center at (800) 282-8223 or visit http://www.nelsoncountysummerfestival.com.
INFO: No pets or alcoholic beverages allowed. Wine tasting is an additional $5 per adult (includes a souvenir glass). Tours of Oak Ridge mansion are $5.
Nelson County Summer Festival Music Stage Schedule 2007:
Saturday, June 23
11 a.m.: Barbara Martin & Mac Walter
12:30 p.m.: The Deanna Bogart Band
2 p.m.: Big Bill Morganfield and his Band
3:30 p.m.: The Deanna Bogart Band
5 p.m.: Big Bill Morganfield and his Band
Sunday, June 24
11 a.m. (2 sets): Jay & Morwenna
2 p.m. (2 sets): Ban Caribe
4:30 p.m. (2 sets): The Seldom Scene
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