Archive for ◊ June, 2018 ◊

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 19, starting at 6 pm at the Lake Country Business Park located on Noblin Farm Road (next to Clarksville Elementary School).

Hot dogs, hamburgers, & soft drinks will be available for purchase, courtesy of Sentara MeadowView Terrace. A minimal fee will be charged for the food and activities; however, all proceeds will be donated to the Southeastern Alzheimer’s Association. Children’s games, and other activities will be available at the event, too!
A dunking booth (fundraiser for provided by Sweet Virginia Barn cats). The Cottage Barn will have ice cream available at the tethering.

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.

Playing live acoustic at Opening Ceremonies, Logan Robinson is a 23 year old singer/songwriter and developmental artist with SSM Nashville in Nashville, TN. Even though Logan was born in NC, he considers Clarksville his second home.  Members of the Robinson family have owned a second home on Buggs Island for almost fifty years.  Logan has been spending his summers, with his family, in Clarksville since he was five weeks old. In fact, his first music video for his top ten country single “Boat Docks” was filmed right here in Clarksville at the house he was raised at during the summers, now owned by his parents. https://www.loganrobinsonmusic.com/

After Saluting our Sponsors, put your dancing shoes on!

Miss Mini and Pressure Point Bio

When you go to hear Miss Mini and Pressure Point, be sure to bring your dancing shoes. You’re gonna need ‘em!   Miss Mini and Pressure Point is a very talented group of singers and musicians who have just one goal in mind…making you dance! There is well over a century and a half of musical talent that makes up this high energy band. They play the best in Top 40, R&B, Beach Music, Southern Soul, Blues and more. They play their original music as well as cover tunes. In fact, many of the songs that they cover are unique to this band because their talent allows them to play the most complex arrangements. They can also easily take and play requests.  For years they have traveled up and down the Eastern Seaboard delighting audiences with their musical expertise and showmanship and will continue to do so for many more to come.  For more information about the band including individual bios, videos, pictures and more, visit the website missminimusic.com.

Enter your antique automobiles in the 24th annual Antique Auto Show, which will be featured at Lakefest in Clarksville on Saturday, July 21, at Century 21 On the Lake (412 Virginia Avenue) and the lawn areas adjacent to the realty office. Great trophies will be given in the categories:

•     Hard Luck Story
•     Oldest Vehicle
•     Longest Distance Traveled
•     Diamond in the Rough
•     Tom Lilly BEST IN SHOW Award (The most important trophy of the show!)

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 434-374-2279 or at the Chamber Office 434-374-2436 or Click here to Download or Print and return with the $10 fee prior to festival or $20 day of the show. Or it can be mailed out or faxed to those interested in participating.

One of the events major attractions to Lakefest each year is the Sand Sculpture. We wait for almost three whole days to figure out what great work of art will be carved out of that huge pile of sand. The attraction is located in the Pocket Park, located at the corner of 4th & Virginia Avenue, near the LOVE sign.

Back this year is Ed Moore who was here last year and has been the main sand artist for Lakefest for many years. Ed is the Founder of the Sandy Feat sand sculpture group, who grew up to be an architect. But he never gave up on his childhood pastime, which resulted in ever more complex creations, from elaborate castles built on beach vacations to the scores of sculptures he has cut into blocks of wet sand since founding the professional sand-sculpting team Sandy Feat 26 years ago.

He has a Bachelor’s degree in architecture, is a N.C. State University Residence, lives in Raleigh with his wife, Sally Moore. The Moore family has a long history at N.C. State, where he, his father and one of his sons all earned degrees. Moore says his father would often recall a tradition there from the 1920s called “Rush the Grand,” in which groups of students would take the trolley downtown to the Grand Theater. (Later called the Ambassador Theater, it has since been razed.) A large enough group would overwhelm the attendants, allowing the students to get in free.

Saturday, July 21st is Shame for Sydney. With a song list that extends from rock, country, R&B, and blues from the decades of the 70’s 80’s 90’s to today, Shame for Sydney keeps the set list as current as possible, mixing in all your favorite dance classics. Shame for Sydney is outgoing and energetic, they are a VA/NC based band consisting of four seasoned and professional musicians of the highest caliber.

Starting out as an original rock band in 2002 Shame for Sydney has completely turned 180 degrees to become your ultimate party band. Before Shame for Sydney was formed each musician toured locally, regionally, and nationally.

This year’s 41st Annual Virginia Lake Festival is July 19-21, 2018. The STS Top 20 Festival and Event Awards have highlighted programs around the Southeast since 1985.

Travel industry experts select 20 events per month, and STS publicizes them throughout the United States. The complete list is published on two websites: EscapeToTheSoutheast.com and Travel Media Press Room.

For over 40 years, all the activities provided during this event have been free and open to the public. We are very committed to continuing this tradition, although our expenses continue to increase. Our entire community (population 1,400) becomes involved with one aspect or another of this three-day event. Our civic groups are instrumental in lending a hand, as well as our rescue, fire and police departments to insure that all of those attending have a wonderful and safe time. This year we are celebrating our 40 year milestone, and with that our hopes are to enhancing the elements of Lakefest festival goers enjoy so much! More vendor choices, Great music, sand sculpture, fun entertainment for the children, a great show of Hot air balloons, & the biggest Fireworks show to date!!

“The Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Festival and Event list is an excellent guide for the Southeast’s visitors, residents and travel writers. The events selected represent the best, and often most unique, activities in our region,” said Bill Hardman, president and CEO of the Southeast Tourism Society.

Events considered for the STS Top 20 recognition must be at least three years old and have attendance of at least 1,000. Nomination forms and deadlines are available at SoutheastTourism.org or by calling 770-542-1523.

STS, founded in 1983 and headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting tourism to and within 12 states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Happy to announce our 41st Logo Design Winner! Hunter Davies from Nelson, VA is awarded our $250 prize for his winning artwork. Hunter has just graduated from Bluestone High School this May. I asked him what he plans to do with his $250 and he quickly replied that he is going to save it. He plans to work with his parents who just started a fencing company for a while till he moves on. Last year was his first Lakefest experience after moving here from the Brunswick area two years ago.

This was a project through his advanced art class at Bluestone, taught by Michael Jancart. Several students turned in their designs for our Logo Contest. This logo will appear on our official Lakefest t-shirts and promo materials. Congrats Hunter! Thank you to all the other entries, it is always a tough decision for the panel of judges