Archive for ◊ 2015 ◊

Posted: Tuesday, November 24th, 2015

Kick off December by attending or participating in Clarksville’s annual Christmas Parade, December 4th at 6:30 pm. What’s more fun than marching December in with a Christmas Parade, cant think anything? Me either. So come enjoy the floats, bands, & see Santa in his sleigh!

Clarksville-Christmas-ParadeIt’s time to register for the Clarksville Christmas Parade ENTRY FORM must be received in the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber Office by Tuesday, December 2, to be eligible for the December 4th event.  We are seeking participants—beauty queens, businesses, community clubs, organizations, churches, antique vehicles and others interested in making this the best parade to date.

The parade will be fun-filled with no competitions and each entry is required to adhere to the parade regulations below.  The parade is hosted and sponsored by the Clarksville Chamber and the Town of Clarksville.  For more info, contact the Chamber at (434) 374-2436.

Rules & Regulations

  • Registered entries only—deadline December 2nd; NO Santa on any entry, Line-up format is provided when registering is completed.
  • All entries must be decorated in a Christmas theme for the Holiday and abide with these parade rules and regulations
  • No candy may be thrown from entries; walkers alongside may hand candy to the children.
  • No sirens, horns or air-horns may be used.
  • Drivers of all entries must have a valid driver’s license.
  • No entry may halt the parade (only exception will be marching bands).
  • Participants must be in line by 6:15 p.m. sharp; specific line-up location is provided with the registration form.
  • The Parade Committee reserves the right to reject any and all entries for any reason before and during the parade.  No inappropriate actions or displays will be tolerated.

Please be aware that Highway 58 Business will be closed to truck traffic (trucks will need to utilize the Highway 58 Bypass) from 6-8 pm.  During this same time, Virginia Avenue (2nd to 9th Streets) will be closed to vehicle traffic.  So parade preparations may be completed, parallel parking along the parade route will be eliminated beginning at 5 pm through the duration of the parade.


 

Posted: Friday, November 20th, 2015

Art is a wonderful, timeless gift for anyone, so why not support local artists this Christmas? Shop Downtown Clarksville is sponsoring their first Art Crawl during this year’s Christmas in Clarksville Open House. Below you will see the list of participating local artists and where you can find them on the Art Crawl Map.

  1. Art-Crawl-MapSNAPS booth, Heather Labone, Traci Watson, Kricket DeOrnellas
  2. Dr. Robert Ah
  3. Lynn Baron Goodwin
  4. Randie Felts
  5. Jody Bohannon, Mike Jancart & Company
  6. Andrea Veseth Burke

Be sure to stop by the S.N.A.P.S. table to purchase a raffle ticket! Winner will receive 50% of the amount received for all tickets and the other 50% will go to S.N.A.P.S. spay/neuter program to reduce the population of stray and unwanted pets in Mecklenburg County. Perfect time to win some $$ to help you with holiday shopping and to help out a great cause! Tickets are $10 each or 5 for $40. There will also be S.N.A.P.S. tshirts on sale for $15.

For more information visit the Art Crawl Event page on facebook.


 

Posted: Monday, October 26th, 2015

Christmas in ClarksvilleMake your holidays extra special by attending the Christmas in Clarksville Open House on Sunday, November 22nd! Downtown merchants have made special plans to be open from 1-5 pm and help you to wrap up your holidays with one-of-a-kind special gift ideas, discounts and refreshments. In addition, carolers will be strolling along Virginia Avenue singing your holiday favorites. Santa Claus will be at Santa Land located in Virginia Avenue Mall. Take a ride down Virginia Avenue in a horse drawn carriage, provide by B & W Carriage, of Buffalo Junction. Downtown Clarksville will be shining in its beautiful splendor of the holidays that take you back to Christmas of yesteryear.

Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy what Downtown Clarksville has to offer for the holidays. Remember that when you spend your money here, 1% of your tax dollars go back into our community!  So…SHOP MECKLENBURG FIRST!


 

Category: Christmas  | Leave a Comment
Posted: Tuesday, October 13th, 2015

Clarksville-Halloween-2015Friday, October 30th, from 5:30-7pm Downtown Clarksville Virginia will be hosting Trick or Treat on the Avenue! It’s a the safe & fun way to Trick or Treat and great way to load up on those sweet treats!

Spooky NEWS is that the street will be CLOSED this year, so there be a lot of extra fun this year!!

Over 40 merchants and civic organizations will be participating and most will be all dressed up in their costumes and handing out treats from 2nd Street to 8th Street. All children up to age 12 are invited to this Spooktacular event; each must be accompanied by a parent or responsible adult. Please, no masks are to be worn by those 12 years of age or over.

Back again this year, we will have an outdoor movie night, starting at 7:30 pm, at the corner of 5th and Virginia Avenue. We will be featuring the movie, Under Wraps! more details to come.

Clarksville-Trick-Treat-201


 

Category: Halloween  | Leave a Comment
Posted: Monday, September 21st, 2015


 

Posted: Wednesday, August 05th, 2015

Harvest-Days-2Come and celebrate the fall season the first weekend in October at the Annual Harvest Days Festival!

The 20th annual Harvest Days Festival will bring a major celebration to Virginia’s only lakeside town on October 2nd & 3rd. The event will reap a list of activities of things to do for the whole family!

Friday Night

Friday night starting at 7pm we will be hosting the Oktobefest Beer Garden, with live music, fall & domestic beer & food. This event will be located at Alternate RAIN LOCATION: 71 Saw Mill Road, off of Noblin Farm Road, (road) on the East side of Southside Marine.  Admission at the gate will be $5. Food & beer will be available for purchase with ID, beer is $3 per beer. This event is for 21 and over.

Harvest-Days-1Harvest Days Festival Pumpkin Painting Early Saturday the vendors will line the streets facing the storefronts and sidewalks along Virginia Avenue offering seasonal crafts, specialty items, antiques, collectibles and antiquities (items of an era) from 9 am to 3 pm. In addition to the vendors, the one-of-a-kind specialty shops and restaurants will offer specials throughout the downtown area, enjoy our annual fundraising auction at high noon! Rain location for the auction will be inside the town council quarters next to the Great Wall Restaurant.  The games & crafts for the kids will move if rained out, inside the old House of Prayer church upstairs.  Hayrides will still be available if not down pouring.

Oktoberfest Clarksville VARAIN or SHINE!! Come out and enjoy the beautiful autumn weather and the activities that are available. If we have to we will have vendors located indoors at the old House of Prayer Church located at the corner of 4th & Virginia Avenue across the street from the Lake House Restaurant.

The event is opened to the public and there is no admission charge. This year the festival will continue into the late afternoon & evening, 5 pm-9 pm with the Lake Country last Cruise-in for 2015. Harvest Days Festival is hosted by the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce. For more information contact us or call (434) 374-2436  or check out the schedule of events on our facebook page. If you would like to be a vendor please fill out our Rules & Application Sheet.


 

Category: Festival  | Leave a Comment
Posted: Wednesday, August 05th, 2015
Conway-Studios

First Place: Conway Studios Cathy McInville of Conway, NC Stained Glass & Handmade bird baths, butterflies, dragonflies, decorative art & sculptures. cathymcinville@nullgmail.com 252-252-377-7764

The-House-Movement

2nd Place: Tiny House Movement, Living Off the Grid Julie Hochwender, Hot Springs, NC. Handmande bird houses from tin & logs/log candle holders tinyhousemovements@nullgmail.com 573-673-6882

Bakers-by-the-Sea

3rd Place: Bakers by the Sea Susanne Baker, New Smyrna Beach, Florida Hand sewn denium koozies, fired stone coasters & signs 843-377-9277 sugarbaker1113@nullaol.com

Angie-Cole

Honorable Mention: Angie Cole Huddleson, VA metal yard art, painted decorative spinners amcglc613@nullyahoo.com 608-481-2458


 

Posted: Monday, July 06th, 2015

THE BIGGEST EVENT IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA is HERE!! This year is spectacular and we are inviting you to come, party with us as we celebrate the area’s favorite event here in Virginia’s only Lakeside Town. Below you’ll find detailed information on some of this year’s details; starting Thursday night with our Annual Hot-air Balloon Tethering rides, then Friday we invite you to come to opening ceremonies & finally Saturday, the main day, full of events for the whole family from sunrise to the gathering of the boats & fireworks. Make sure you stay till Sunday year and celebrate “Afterfest” too!


 

Posted: Monday, July 06th, 2015

Lakefest Highlights start on Thursday…Come out and enjoy the beauty of the hot-air balloons! Bring your lawn chairs and blankets and spend the evening watching the balloons inflate and provide fun, FREE hot-air balloon rides for children 12 and younger. This event is scheduled for Thursday, July 16, starting at 6 pm at the Lake Country Business Park located on Noblin Farm Road (next to Clarksville Elementary School).

Lakefest-Hot-Air-Balloons

Hot dogs, hamburgers, soft drinks and ice cream treats will be available, courtesy of MeadowView Terrace. Children’s games, a dunking booth and other activities will be available at the event, too, all courtesy of Halifax Regional Health System. A minimal fee will be charged for the food and activities; however, all proceeds will be donated to the Southeastern Alzheimer’s Association.

With the weather cooperating (pilot can fly only when the wind is less than 10 mph and there are no storms within a 60 mile radius), all activities will continue until dusk. For more information, contact the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce at 434-374-2436.

Also, going on the same night after the Hot air balloon rides, head downtown, to the corner of 4th & Virginia Avenue to the old House of Prayer Church Building at 8 pm to see a FREE MOVIE! The House of Prayer is hosting the movie BIG HERO SIX rated PG. Refreshments & popcorn will be available.


 

Category: Festival, Lakefest  | One Comment
Posted: Monday, July 06th, 2015

ALAN at 2013 LAKEFEST

Friday, July 17th stop by the corner of 4th & Virginia Avenue, where Sand sculptor, Alan Matsumoto, has already begun his larger-than-life creation, I wonder what it will be this year? Alan, has held a Guinness World Record in sand-sculpting, and has won 6 World Championship titles with his Sand-sculpting Team-mates. He has also been a Canadian National Snow-sculpting Champion and twice B.C. Provincial Champion. After a 19 year career as a Structural Engineer in Vancouver, Canada, Alan has been sand-sculpting professionally now for over 20 years and currently lives in Roanoke, Virginia.

The town will be busy preparing for the night’s activities as the main stage will be rolling in as well as a few selected vendors & Fun Time Amusements of Danville will be setting up all their machines for the all the children’s games & rides. Around 6:30 pm everything should be set & placed into action. At 7 pm, we the night’s MC, Bill Baker will take stage and announce and bring our wonderful, sponsors to the stage! We couldn’t do it without them!!! Make sure you thank a sponsor if you see one!!

ADMIRAL

  • HP

CAPTAINS

  • McDonalds of Clarksville
  • Clarksville Ruritans
  • VETS, Inc.

COMMANDERS

  • Benchmark Community Bank
  • Lake Motel Efficiencies & Magnuson on the Lake
  • SENTARA
  • Signs & Designs
  • The Mecklenburg Sun
  • The News Progress
  • US98.3

OFFICERS

  • VCU/CMH
  • Town of Clarksville
  • Century 21 on the Lake
  • Simmon’s & Associates Realty

1st MATES

  • A & K Dock Service
  • Unburn
  • Clarksville Marina
  • Carter Bank & Trust
  • Citizens Community Bank
  • Edward Jones
  • Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative

Helmsmen

  • CFJ-Jewelry, Gifts & More
  • Clarksville Auto Supply, Inc.
  • Matthews Sanitation
  • Southside Marine
  • Virginia Avenue Mall

As soon as we are finished with taking the sponsor photo, the live entertainment for the evening takes stage….from Richmond Virginia, InsideOut. We will be selling lakefest t-shirts by the Clarksville Ruritans Thrift Shop, and also raffle tickets for the Totally Cool Raffle, which the winner will be drawn at 9:45 that evening.


 

Posted: Monday, July 06th, 2015

From Richmond Virginia, playing the best from the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, as well as today’s top hits, InsideOut features male and female lead singers, who bring a high energy show band while playing the best dance music around. InsideOut Band deliveries a wide variety in all kinds of music, for all ages.

Inside-Out

InsideOut Band consists of 10 professional musicians with sorted talents, a dynamic horn section and 6 lead vocalists, playing music from Wilson Pickett to Katie Perry, InsideOut covers it all. The added bonus is the band’s DJ performs before they take stage, during their breaks, and after the show for an awesome entertainment experience, the best of both worlds for your function.

InsideOut Band’s influences include groups like Chicago, Tower of Power, Blood Sweat and Tears, Earth Wind & Fire, and Kool and the Gang. Also artists like Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Luther Vandross, Prince, the Time and too many more to list. The will be ready to bring you to the dance floor the Friday of WELCOMING CEREMONIES of LAKEFEST…. July 17th, after we honor the sponsors!


 

Category: Festival, Lakefest  | One Comment
Posted: Monday, July 06th, 2015

Everything about the Prize Package is BIG that we have assembled for this year’s LF Raffle, thanks in part to some really awesome local Chamber Retailers that have donated some totally awesome gifts! YOU will be “COOL” in so many ways winning this prize package!! Everything in this raffle screams summer time fun and what better way to cool down than at the lake with all these fine prizes! (more details below)

Monstrous-RaffleA & K Dock service has generously donated a Pipeline, 11’ MUSHY Paddle Board & Paddle, worth over $800!! I WANT ONE!! CFJ- Jewelry Gifts & More – has also supplied coolness to one lucky winner and hooked us up a YETI COOLER, yeti accessories, Corkcicle & Heybo Tervis! Just with those items alone this package is worth almost $1200. While one of you is paddling, the other can relax on the Obrien foam Hammock that Southside Marine donated. HITE’s donated $100 worth of prizes to keep you fashionable for your trip to the beach: Buggs Island cap, tee & Beach hat, Mudpie bag & spiker & some southern fried accessories too! It wouldn’t be a day at the beach without a Shark siting, not a real shark in this raffle but a wind shark spinner that would look great in your yard, donated by the Twisted Tree! At days end from a totally wonderful day at the lake, the sun & water is great but for your hair it may give you that “yeti” look and will need repaired….well, Your Hair Place has hooked this raffle up with Matrix Biolage Shampoo & Conditioner. And for a kicker, and fun later in the summer…donated to us by Henrico Farms is a free ticket to the BIG Buggs Island Blues Bash, Scheduled for October 3rd!

Along with the items donated The Chamber purchased the below items from local Chamber Retailers to compliment this raffle:

  • Obrien Wake Vest–Southside Marine
  • Jellyfish Kite–The Twisted Tree
  • Beach Towels & Set of napkins with Fish rings–Morningstar’s Bed & Bath Outlet
  • Lunch Basket, Flip flops, Avon SPF Sunscreen, Anchor scarf wraps, anchor zip bag–Virginia Avenue Mall
  • Also:
  • *NEW Lake Life Pier Wreath
  • *NEW Winbush Racing Tee Shirt & koozie

You DONT want to miss out buying a ticket for this raffle!! ONE ticket for $5 can win you all this!!!! Can you imagine? You can save by buying more tickets, buy 3 for $12 or 6 for $20. Tickets are available at the Chamber Office, Monday –Friday 9- 5 pm. Also, the Board of directors will also have tickets, so if we aren’t open, find one of them, I am sure they would be happy to sell theirs!!!

ALL ITEMS FOR THIS RAFFLE ARE FROM LOCAL CHAMBER MEMBERS! PLEASE REMEMBER TO SHOP LOCAL.

Proceeds go towards Lakefest expenses & future downtown events hosted by the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce. (Special thanks to Brandy Driggs & Philip Hensley for modeling & Betty Gould for allowing us to use Gypsy Beach for photo shoot)


 

Category: Festival, Lakefest  | One Comment
Posted: Monday, July 06th, 2015

Lakefest-Artshow-2The arts & crafts show is juried and the jury has been kept busy reviewing applications and photographs since early in February. Artists this year are coming from not only Virginia, but also other states– Florida, Ohio, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Maine, Pennsylvania & Georgia. The crafters have been extremely active in applying for this year’s show. Lots of new & exciting booths this year….art from Water ink, acrylic and oil paintings, pottery, leather products, birdhouses and garden accessories, carvers and sculptures, personalized jewelry, items to be personalized on the spot, blown glass jewelry, photography, clothing, home accessories and even pet attire–just to name a few.

What are some of the food vendors on tap for this year…how about something heathy at LAKEFEST? Well, we have a new vendor this year coming from Midlothian…..Hemp Dog Café® their products are a healthy take on classic foods. It is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and GMO free!

Of cLakefest-Artshow-1ourse we have all the other festival favorites such as gyros, chic on a stick, Thai food, pizza, whole pig BBQ, crab cakes, seafood and hot dogs & hamburgers too! Fried green tomatoes, alligator fries, blooming onions, kettle corn, & more.

And for those with a sweet tooth, we have all sorts of flavored Funnel cakes and an Insane DONUT vendor, deep fried peaches, candy bars, & Oreos. For that hot summer day you can choose from these tasty treats to cool you down, Ice cream, smoothies, sno-cones, popsicles’, milkshakes or yogurt & so much more.

Want to see keep up with all active details & more of who is coming to LAKEFEST, go to our LAKEFEST EVENT page on Facebook to view our daily post on updates and information.


 

Posted: Monday, July 06th, 2015

Parking? We get that question a lot here in our office, and to make life a little less stressful for you & the town of Clarksville during Lakefest we encourage you to use the shuttle service offered to you as our solution for everyone.

Exciting news for this years event:

Mecklenburg County Public School division is working with the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce to make getting to and from Lakefest a little easier for visitors this year.
Sheila Cuykendall, Executive Director of the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce said the chamber traditionally hired a non-local bus service to bring people downtown from the event’s remote parking areas. This year she chose to find a way to provide the same service while spending the money locally. She approached the school division about renting two buses – one handicapped accessible – and hiring division bus drivers to operate them.IMG_1242
The school boardIMG_1239 approved the request at its last voting session.
Speaking for the division, Heather Tuck, Assistant Superintendent of Administration said, “As we continue to work together in our community to strengthen the many positive aspects of living in Mecklenburg County, our school division is pleased that the town of Clarksville reached out to us to use our school buses for a fee, and hire our drivers to transport people to the downtown activities during Lakefest. Working with each community and all governmental agencies helps create a partnership that supports the county of Mecklenburg.”
Lakefest visitors seeking a ride to the downtown festival should look for the yellow school buses that will be shuttling people to and from remote parking sites. These are both air conditioned buses!!

Shuttle Service Map

This service will help with the age old question on where to park? This way you don’t have to worry about being stuck on the side street with all those others trying & hoping to find a spot nearby. The sides streets are really narrow & and If you are new to the area, you might not know the best way to navigate around the back roads, even though there are detour signs. Even if you are familiar and live out of town, there will be fewer headaches to park your car across from the YMCA, catch the bus and ride to the drop you off at the 8th street. And any time you are ready to head back to your vehicle, a bus will be there within minutes to take you back.

Parking & Shuttle Service—Festivalgoers are encouraged to Park & Ride. Parking $5 per vehicle; there is no charge to ride the shuttles to and from the festival. Parking will be at the Lake County Business Park, on Noblin Farm Road. The Shuttle will run from 8 am until 6 pm. If you want to participate in the night activities you will have to catch the last ride by 6 pm to retrieve your vehicle so you can then just park closer to town after 6 pm.

Attention

For those Parking at Circle K and walking over the bridge to get to the festivities. You will need to go retrieve you vehicle by 3 pm, there will be NO PEDESTRIAN allowed to walk or ride on the bridge BUSINESS Bridge after 3 pm. Only authorized personal


 

Posted: Monday, July 06th, 2015

2015-Antique-AutoEnter your antique automobiles in the 21st annual Antique Auto Show, which will be featured at Lakefest in Clarksville on Saturday, July 18, at Century 21 On the Lake (412 Virginia Avenue) and the lawn areas adjacent to realty office. Great trophies will be made in the categories of

  •    Hard Luck Story,
  •    Oldest Vehicle,
  •    Longest Distance Traveled,
  •    Diamond in the Rough and
  •    The most important trophy of the show; Tom Lilly BEST IN SHOW Award.

Among those who have registered their vehicle in the show, there will be two prizes of $50 each that will be given away that afternoon.

To register your vehicle for the show, complete a registration form (available at Century 21 On the Lake or at the Chamber Office or Click Here to Download/Print) and return with the $10 fee prior to festival or $20 day of the show. The application can be mailed out or faxed to those interested in participating. For more information about registering your vehicle for the show, contact Century 21 On the Lake (434-374-2279) or the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce (434-374-2436) or HERE.