In the Photo: Sheila Cuykendall - Clarksville Chamber of Commerce, Rhonda Tate - Virginia Avenue Mall, Tara Murphy - Town Hall

Come to Clarksville, Virginia Saturday, May 12, to the Big Lake Flea Market, for more unique finds and great bargains. 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. Treat your tummy to delicious tastes including freshly picked strawberries straight from the patch. 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.

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 Wells Fargo Bank and behind the Virginia Avenue Mall, plus on the side 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.

The Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce hosts the Big Lake Flea Market. For more information or want to be a vendor, call 434-374-2436

Lakefest Idol Competition

The Clarksville Lake Country Chamber & Clarksville Community Players team up to create a new Fundraiser for Lakefest! We are happy to announce a fun Singing competition for those who love to sing and compete for a chance to showcase their talent at the opening ceremonies July 20th at 7 pm at the main stage area behind Wells Fargo. Mirroring some of the exciting features of American Idol, The CCP & Clarksville Chamber will have a panel of judges, auditions and finals. The winner of the final competition will be named the First Official “Lakefest Idol’ title winner and sing the night of the opening ceremonies. We are really excited to add a new element to Lakefest and hope that the community will get involved. Everyone will be able to come see the talent on the audition dates and the audience will even have a chance to vote at the top 15-finalist competition for their favorite singer on July 7th. So get your vocal cords ready and come be apart of the fun!! Download an application HERE.

So come shop and spend your Saturday, May 5, at Virginia’s only lakeside town. These stores will have merchandise in front of their businesses with clearance items, sale items or featured items, so come see what bargain you can find! Below are the confirmed participating merchants in the Sidewalk Sale:

Here are some other Chamber Merchants that invest into their community, so make sure you stop & support them too! EAT, SHOP, TOUR & STAY!

For a complete listing of all our supporting Chamber Members, please visit our website at www.clarksvilleva.com

The Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit business organization representing the interests of member companies throughout the Lake Country Area. Its mission is to enhance small-town atmosphere while promoting economic growth without compromising our natural resources. We want to promote our area and encourage you all to Shop & Buy Local!

Cruise back from 4 pm-9 pm for the Lake Country Cruise-in! Bring your old “ride’ or just come and celebrate Clarksville on the Lake with great food, fare & fun & some merchants plan to stay open late. Virginia Avenue from 3rd to 7th street will be closed to accommodate over 130 cars. Free Admission! This event takes place the First Saturdays of each month thru October.

photo courtesy of Greg Carhuff

Tickets
$5 – One
$12 – Three
$20 – Six
(participants need not be present to win)

Enter to win all of the following:

• Wine Rack (filled with one bottle from each 2012 Clarksville Lake Country Wine Festival Winery)
• Cabernet Franc – Annefield Vineyards
• Elderberry Wine – Coltsfoot Winery
• Chardonnay – Fincastle Vineyard & Winery
• Merlot/Temptation – Hunting Creek Vineyards
• 2009 Merlot – Lazy Days Winery
• Chocolate Covered Strawberry, Pow Wow – Mattaponi Winery
• Cranberry Delight – Mt. Vale Vineyards
• Blueberry Muffin – Peaks of Otter Winery
• Sweet Briar Rose – REBEC Vineyard, Inc.
• 2009 Kilravock – Rosemont Winery
• Blackberry Wine – Sans Soucy Vineyards & Winery
• Chambourcin – The Home Place Vineyard
• Tobacco Blue Road – Tomahawk Mill Winery
• Toscanello – Villa Appalaccia Winery
• Oster Electric Wine Opener & Chiller
• 4 Wine Festival Glasses
• Cheese & Cracker Tray
• Embroidered Wine Festival Shirt & Tote

Raffle proceeds will benefit future projects of the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce

Click images below to view the latest Wine Festival Gallery

The Annual Lake Country Wine Festival will be held:

April 14, 2012
Noon-5 pm
Historic Downtown Clarksville

Come out and enjoy the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce’s SIXTH annual “Lake Country Wine Festival” in beautiful Clarksville on the Lake.  This year’s event will host 15 Virginia Wineries, live music, some fine foods and the opportunity to taste nearly 100 varieties of fine Virginia wines and speak with those who have made these vintages possible.

The entry gate to the Festival is at 412 Virginia Avenue. Tickets prior to event day will be $20.  Tickets purchased at the gate will cost $25. With the purchase of a ticket you will receive a complimentary wine glass at the gate. Please take advantage of the pre-event ticket prices and purchase yours online today! (please use the “buy tickets” button to the right to purchase tickets through paypal, which is safe and secure. You can purchase multiple tickets once you click on the button). Tickets purchased online will be held for you at the front gate. You will receive an email confirming your purchase. Tickets are available online until April 8th at 5pm.

Wineries attending this year’s  2012 Wine Festival are:

• Annefield Vineyards, Saxe www.annefieldvineyards.com
  
• Bright Meadows Farm, Nathalie www.brightmeadowsfarm.com
  
• Coltsfoot Winery, Abingdon www.coltsfootwinery.com
  
• Fincastle Vineyard & Winery, Fincastle www.fincastlewine.com
  
• Hunting Creek Vineyards, Clover www.huntingcreekvineyards.com
  
• Lazy Days Winery, Amherst www.lazydayswinery.com
  
• Mattaponi Winery, Spotsylvania www.mattaponiwinery.com
  
• Mt Vale Vineyards, Galax www.mtvalevineyard.com
  
• Peaks of Otter Winery, Bedford www.peaksofotterwinery.com
  
• REBEC Vineyard Inc, Amherst www.rebecwinery.com
  
• Rosemont of Virginia Winery, La Crosse www.rosemontofvirginia.com
  
• Sans Soucy Vineyards & Winery, Brookneal www.sanssoucyvineyards.com
  
• The Homeplace Vineyard, Chatham www.thehomeplacevineyard.com
  
• Tomahawk Mill Winery, Chatham www.tomahawkmill.com
  
• Villa Appalaccia Winery, Floyd www.villaappalaccia.com

This event is for those 21 years of age and over ONLY; PEOPLE MUST HAVE PHOTO ID with them the day of the festival.  It is a rain/shine event.  No refunds/no returns.  No pets; only assistance animals allowed.

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Twas the Night Before Christmas

Saturday December 17th, 6:30pm at the Pocket Park (corner of 4th & Virginia Avenue)
This Event is FREE!
For more information contact the Chamber HERE or at 434-374-2436

December’s theme of gifts for a  Grand Christmas….

• TWO Zomm Blue tooth devices, donated by Lake Country Cellular
• Set of Clarksville Pewter Ornaments, donated by the Clarksville Chamber
• Home for Christmas candle & Oh Night Divine pillow, donated by Grandfather’s Country Creations
• Hand painted note cards, by Rebecca Hall donated by Hall’s Lakeside Gallery
• A gift basket of accessories for the iphone 4s, donated by N Touch Wireless
• Top your decorations off with a beautiful Christmas Wreath donated from the Clarksville Florist & Carole Blair of Lake Kerr Realty

Burr… January, the start of winter’s coldest nights, so this month is great for staying in and staying home with the family. So this month’s theme is Movies at Home designed for staying warm and encouraging a great night of fun for the whole family:

• Blu-ray player donated my VETS Inc
• Movie theater candy and popcorn
• Disney’s “Toy Story 3″ DVD & 4 DVD Collectors Edition Blu-ray Movie “Plant Earth”, donated by Shentel
• A gift certificate to order out for pizza donated by Affordable Carpet Cleaning

Ah February…love is in the air…this months theme is a Wintery Romance for your valentine… gifts they won’t forget.

• Best Western has donated a two night stay for this month’s idea of romance in winter
• another night of romance, Cooper’s Landing Inn has donated a Wed. or Thur. night stay with breakfast
• box of chocolates donated by Clarksville Chamber
• dozen of roses, donated by Avenue floral & Design.
• Toast your evening with two wine glasses donated by the Chamber
• A bottle of Rosemont Lake Country Red Wine, donated by VETS, Inc.
• MeadowView Terrace is treating you and your love a dinner for two.

Finally there is March…a glimmer of hope that winter is finally coming to an end, so this month’s theme is Springing for spring. Gifts that are geared toward one jumpstarting for the warmer weather a coming.

• Clean your car with a Car Cleaning package… car detail, washes, vacuum, armor all, and wash interior windows donated by Lakeview Motors.
• Get your garden prepared with this JR 500 Garden Irrigation Kit, donated by Berry Hill Irrigation.
• And don’t forget about getting yourself ready or for the one receiving this gift.. Is a two month tanning package at Lakeside Tan donated by VETS, Inc
• a gift certificate to for a possible new hair do, donated my Affordable Carpet Cleaning.

So you can see these next four months are all taken care of with this great raffle. All gifts were purchased from Clarksville merchants and were donated by the supporters and members of the Clarksville Lake County Chamber of Commerce. The idea of this raffle is to support the Clarksville & Mecklenburg County merchants and encouraging everyone to shop local.
Want a chance to win this raffle, stop by the Chamber office or Virginia Avenue Mall and buy yourself a chance at these great gifts. $5 for one ticket, three for $12 or buy six for $20. Also, we will be selling them the day of the Holiday Open House in Clarksville, November 20th from 1-5, in front of the Virginia Avenue Mall. Drawing will be held on December 8th. Need not be present to win.

Sheila Cuykendall
Interim Director

It’s time to register for the Clarksville Christmas Parade—ENTRY FORM must be received in the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber Office by Tuesday, November 30, to be eligible for the December 2nd 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. This year’s grand marshals will be Jim Moody, Chief Operating Officer of Veterans Enterprise Technology Solutions, Inc,  (VETS, Inc), a Clarksville based business. VETS, Inc is listed in Inc 500 as one of America’s Entrepreneurial Superstars.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 Merchants’ Committee of the Clarksville Chamber and the Town of Clarksville.  For more info, contact the Chamber at (434) 374-2436.

RULES & REGULATIONS

• Registered entries only—deadline November 30^th; 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 along side 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 (2^nd to 9^th Streets) will be closed to vehicle traffic from 6-8 pm.  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.



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!

Other sites that will be trick or treating at the same time will be the Clarksville Family Practice (115 College Street) and MeadowView Terrace (184 Buffalo Road). (View/Download a Trick or Treat the Streets Map HERE)

So, come out, bring the kids and enjoy this safe, family friendly environment. See you on the streets!