Come and celebrate the fall season the first Saturday in October at the Annual Harvest Days Festival! 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 5 pm. In addition to the vendors, the one-of-a-kind speciality shops and restaurants will offer specials throughout the downtown area. Come out and enjoy the beautiful autumn weather and the activities that are available. The event is opened to the public and there is no admission charge. Harvest Days Festival is hosted by the Merchants Committee of the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce. For more information call (434) 374-2436 and/or see our fact sheet.

The Official 2011 Lakefest t-shirts have arrived and they are spectacular!  The artwork depicted on the back of each shirt has two major Lakefest components—the hot-air balloons and the fireworks; Michael Jancart of Nelson created the winning Lakefest design.  The front of the shirts boast the firework graphic surrounded by the words “Virginia Lake Festival, Clarksville, Virginia’s Only Lakeside Town.”  Each shirt also has the Clarksville Ruritan logo imprinted on the left sleeve, which reflects their Lakefest 2011 Captain Sponsorship.

The shirts come in a variety of colors—white, black, yellow haze, grey ice, and azalea and they range in sizes from youth small to adult XXX-large.  Youth shirts are $12 each, adults up to x-large are $16 and XX’s and XXX’s are $18.

Chris and Stephanie Bailey recently brought their two daughters to the Clarksville Chamber and the foursome picked out their favorite Lakefest t-shirts. Pictured from left to right: dad Chris, daughter Elena, age 5; daughter Annelise, age 9; and mom Stephanie. Chris is the financial advisor at the Edward Jones Investments in Clarksville and he also serves as secretary on the Chamber’s board of directors. For best selection of sizes and colors—shop early and secure your favorite ones.

T-shirts are now available at the Clarksville Chamber Office (105 Second Street), the Virginia Avenue Mall (317 Virginia Avenue), and the Clarksville Town Office (321 Virginia Avenue).  Proceeds from the shirts will help with the various expenses of Lakefest such as live bands, fireworks and hot-air balloons.  The 34th annual Lakefest is scheduled for July 14-16.

Show your patriotism to the great United States of America and salute our Veterans—by being a participant or a spectator at the 2011 Independence Day Parade in Clarksville On the Lake! This year’s event, sponsored by the Clarksville Ruritans, is slated for Historic Downtown Clarksville on July 4, at 11 am.

Entry categories include floats, antique cars, trucks and tractors, golf carts, fire trucks and bands, plus, all area youth are encouraged to decorate their vehicle of choice—tricycle, bicycle or battery operated mini-vehicles. Each entry into this year’s parade must be decorated in the patriotic theme and the first 1,000 participants and attendees will receive an American flag upon arrival. Parade applications may be printed by clicking HERE —there is no fee to register or participate; requested date for application return is June 30.

Immediately following the parade, everyone will be treated to free hot dogs and soft drinks, compliments of the Clarksville Ruritans. For more details about the parade and the cook-out, contact Ruritan Committee Chair Charles Lee at jcharleslee@aol.com or call 434-374-0794.

Spring into 2011 and spend your Saturday, May 7, at Virginia’s only lakeside town beginning at 8 a.m. Virginia Avenue will be a buzz with a special selection of vendors and downtown merchants offering arts and crafts, fresh produce, antiques, yard sale items and one-of-a-kind treasures. Come hungry, too, because the best of the food vendors will be onsite preparing your favorites and the local restaurants will offer specials on their menu throughout the day.

Holding the 2011 Big Lake Flea Market banner are Clarksville Merchant Committee members (left to right) Barbara Martin, Lynn Smith, Mary Horn and Linda Davenport. They have been busy preparing for this year’s event and invite others to join the fun by renting a vendor space or attending the great shopping experience.

Vendors will be located on the pavement (in the parallel parking spaces) along Virginia Avenue from 3rd Street to 7th Street. Thus, vehicle parking will be available in the lots of Wachovia Bank and behind the Virginia Avenue Mall, plus on the sides streets of Downtown Clarksville.

So, hit the streets early (vendors will be ready at 8:00 a.m.) and make your plans to spend a fun day in Virginia’s only lakeside town.

Clarksville’s Merchant Committee and the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce host the Big Lake Flea Market. For more information, call 434-374-2436.

It’s the lifestyle that attracts visitors to Clarksville and that keeps them coming back year after year…or for a lifetime. It’s the friendly people, small town charm, low cost of living, mild climate, and recreational opportunities that makes Clarksville a great place to visit and an even better place to call home.

While things move at a more leisurely pace in Clarksville, the town continues to move forward to embrace the changing economy and provide a 21st century approach to the historical charm that brought Clarksville to where it is today. It’s a town of new opportunity built on a history of trade. The rivers which brought the tobacco trade to Clarksville now feed the lake that provides the economic and recreational backbone of the Clarksville community.

Buggs Island Lake is the main attraction for those who love water sports of any kind, or simply enjoys the beauty of the landscape and wildlife that the lake provides. With 50,000 acres of water and 800 miles of shoreline, you can always find a secluded cove on this lake, even on a busy holiday weekend.

Downtown Clarksville has been named to the Virginia and National Registers of Historic Places. You can take a walking tour of more than 60 churches, homes, and businesses that date back to the late 18th century with architecture ranging from Queen Anne to Greek Revival to Victorian. Today its brick lined sidewalks with decorative lighting and Currier and Ives charm are lined with unique shops and a variety of dining choices that invite an afternoon stroll for a tasty treat or the perfect treasure.

Throughout the year Clarksville hosts a variety of special events including the largest, the Virginia Lake Festival in July, which attracts more than 80,000 visitors to town.

So, if you’ve never been here, please come to visit. But be prepared to fall in love with Clarksville. You may want to pack an extra bag just in case!