Festival Time

Festival time is here! Starting with the Walnut Festival today and running throught the King Fest in October it will be a fun time in Stokes County. Below is a story about the first three of the events. More on King Fest as it gets closer. In addition there are two benefit golf tournaments that I am aware of: Communities in Schools on Sept 25 and Habitat for Humanities. Let me know if you would like more details.

Festival flurry: Three county festivals run back-to-back
by Leslie Bray Evans1 day 9 hrs ago | 87 views | 0 | 2 | | This coming weekend will find Stokes County in a blaze of festival activity, moreso than normal in early September. This year, the Walnut Festival, Stokes Stomp and Stokes County Agricultural Fair will be held back-to-back for the first time ever. The three events are expected to bring large numbers of visitors to Stokes County for the nine-day duration.

WALNUT FESTIVAL

The fourth annual Walnut Festival—revamped and renamed “Walnut Cove After Dark”—will be held in downtown Walnut Cove on Friday, September 11, from 6-10 p.m. This is a week later than last year’s event which was held the first weekend in September. In past years, the festival has been a two-day event—Friday and Saturday. This year, the actual festival has been cut to one day and will take place entirely in Jack Fowler Park and the Walnut Cove Public Library parking lot.

Music and dancing will be the order of the evening with rock and roll by the Promise Breakers, bluegrass by the Grassifieds, Texas rockabilly by the Brealcreams, and square dancing from the dancers at Walnut Cove Senior Center. There will also be a Zumba demonstration and an appearance by 2009 Junior Miss North Carolina Tara Lynne Schiphof.

“We are excited about the new format of the Walnut Festival and hope that lots of people will come out to see what we are doing,” said Commissioner Debbie Cowan, Events Committee Chairperson. “We hope the new format will bring people out to enjoy Walnut Cove after dark, mingle with friends and neighbors, and enjoy good food and music.”

An added event on Friday is the 6-8 p.m. open house for Hospice and Palliative Care at the corner of Main Street and Brook Cove Road.

Although the festival officially ends on Friday night, the next day will bring yet another event to Walnut Cove—the second annual Walnut Cove Criterium Bicycle Race, promoted by the Stokes County Arts Council, StokesCORE, and Ken’s Bike Shop of Winston-Salem. Organizers have stated that they “expect lots of ‘tourists on two wheels’ to converge on Walnut Cove.”

Race registration commences at 7:30 a.m. across from Sam’s Pizza on Main Street with an expected attendance of approximately 200 racers—double the numbers from last year.

This year’s race features a different race route—seven-tenths of a mile, designed to be “better for riders and for businesses on Main Street hoping to attract business from riders and their families,” according to Walnut Cove Town Manager Homer Dearmin.

Race Organizer Ken Putnam noted, “Riders will be able to see one of Walnut Cove’s best residential neighborhoods and also the downtown district.” He added that there would be diversity in terrain for riders and no large hindrances for vehicles which will be routed around the race.

Streets will close at 7:30 a.m. and reopen at 3 p.m. Letters were sent to residents and businesses in late August to inform them of the rerouting of traffic and race routes. Dearmin says he “hopes that residents will organize race-watching parties on their lawns or take the opportunity to walk down to Main Street and see what is going on.”

Added to the attractions on Saturday is the grand opening for the new expansion at Just Plain Country at 405 North Main Street.

Also, at noon on Saturday, there will be a free “Kids’ Fun Ride” for children ages 5-12, with registration across from Sam’s Pizza from 11-11:45 a.m. A release form must be filled out for each child. Dearmin explained the rules, “Riders will need to supply their own bicycle in good working order, as well as a bicycle helmet. Riders must also wear a sleeved shirt and closed toe shoes.”

Dearmin also notes that race organizers have been meeting weekly for several weeks with local law enforcement and emergency personnel to plan for event safety and proper orchestration.

“I am hopeful that we can build this event over the next several years to attract hundreds of participants and spectators to Walnut Cove,” Dearmin outlined his vision for the future. “If they visit our businesses and restaurants, and encourage their friends to visit as well, this event could be huge for Walnut Cove and Stokes County.”

STOKES STOMP

One reason the county festivals are being held in close proximity this year is that the Stokes Stomp is a bit earlier than usual. Last year it was September 20-21; this year it is slated for Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13.

The 35th annual Stokes Stomp Festival on the Dan will take place at Moratock Park in Danbury. It is billed as “Stokes County’s oldest and largest arts and music celebration” and is a free event.

The festival will include musical entertainment, a variety of food vendors, art/craft demonstrations, farm-grown produce for sale, the Dan River Duck Race, and a guided trip down the Dan River with Steve Shelton.

For more information, call the Stokes County Arts Council at 593-8159 or visit the website at www.stokesarts.org. The entertainment schedule is posted on the website. The SCAC, premier organizer of the Stomp, says that volunteers are still needed and can contact them for more information.

The SCAC is also asking for donations of gently used or new children’s books, craft items that are arts-based and linked to creativity. Donations can be dropped off at the SCAC in Danbury. They will be used in a new addition to the Stokes Stomp—Stokes Partnership for Children’s “Little Folks Tent.” The theme is Green Earth, and there will be an educational and recycling component to the Children’s Area.

The Arts Council will also be accepting donations of canned food for the East Stokes Outreach Ministry and the King Outreach Ministry. These donations can be dropped off at the SCAC booth at the Stomp.

STOKES COUNTY AGRICULTURAL FAIR

Wrapping up the spate of festival activity is the 59th annual Stokes County Agricultural Fair, held at the American Legion in King. The fair will run Monday, September 14, through Saturday, September 20.

Midway rides and games will be provided by Smokey Mountain Amusements with camel rides for an extra fee. Additions to the fair this year include a celebration of 100 years of 4-H, with a stage for entertainment and a talent show on Thursday night.

Fair officials encourage the public to enter exhibits in agriculture, industry, arts, commerce and entertainment. Premiums will be paid for the top entries.

General admission for the fair is $10 which includes unlimited rides, with children ages two and under and senior citizens admitted for free. School days, with $8 admission for children through high school age, are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Parking costs $2 per vehicle, collected by and contributed to the King Fire Department.

The gates and midway open at 6 p.m. on Monday, but the exhibit hall will not open until 8 p.m. The fair opens at 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Exhibits can be collected on Sunday from 1:30-4 p.m.

Senior citizens ages 60 and over are invited to meet on the front porch at 10 a.m. on Friday for the Senior Citizens’ Fun Festival. The Senior Citizens’ Band will entertain, and contests will be held for seniors.