Archive for ◊ 2018 ◊

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

Come to Clarksville, Virginia Saturday, May 12, to the Big Lake Flea Market and our NEW Farm Fresh Marketplace! Shop for 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, including freshly picked strawberries straight from the patch. Come hungry, too, and dine at a variety of our restaurants in town, also have a few food vendor serving fried fish, hamburgers & other fixings.

Vendors will be located on the pavement (in the parallel parking spaces) along Virginia Avenue from 2nd Street to 6th 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.

WINE FEST TICKETS have arrived and are on sale online for the upcoming Clarksville Lake Country Wine Festival in Clarksville! We have a some new & improved changes proposed for the layout on the bridge, weather permitting, the annual event is on Saturday, April 14, NOON to 5 pm.

We are hosting 16 Virginia wineries, a selection of craft beer, great food, hand selected artisan vendors and a few local merchants & live music by Jeff Bailey and Brian Park & Tobacco Road Band.

So mark your calendars and start the morning downtown shopping the stores & dining at our restaurants then stroll down to the Lake Motel to view the Sea Planes and for those who are 21 and over, at high noon the gates to the Wine Festival located this year at second street will open to the business bridge.

You can purchase to the left (or below if you’re on your phone) or at the Chamber office, Galleria on the Lake, The Virginia Avenue Mall, Century 21 on the Lake & Cooper’s Landing Inn. Tickets in advance are $25, $30 at the gate, ticket includes a souvenir wine glass. For non-taster/DD tickets in advance are, $12, $15 at the gate.

All festival proceeds will benefit the Town’s Chamber of Commerce and will go towards future projects. For more information, contact the Chamber at here or 800-557-5582.

“ANCHOR IN” with the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce & community in 2018!

ANCHORED is our campaign motto for the 2018 Membership Drive here at the Clarksville Lake County Chamber of Commerce. Every January we send out well over 300 membership packet applications to partner with area businesses & organizations. In 2017, we had 213 members of the Clarksville Chamber.

Our primary purpose of this Chamber is to our members. Members are “preferred” businesses because they make the commitment to the purposes of the Chamber – to promote civic, economic, and area enterprises. Chamber members promote job readiness for youth, efficient public services, a positive business climate and solid customer service. This Chamber refers only investing members’ information throughout the year. We make thousands of referrals yearly via telephone, email and person-to-person, In our office alone, we handled more than 16,000 inquiries in 2017—phone calls, emails, social media contacts (Facebook) and people walking through our door, all asking questions and needing assistance with information.

We have accomplished so much this past year, and not without the help of our members! In 2017 we held 12 events: Wine Festival, Big Lake Flea Market, Lake Festival, Harvest Days & Oktoberfest, Trick or Treat the Avenue, Estate Planning Seminar, Lamppost Decorating Contest, Holiday Open House, Christmas Parade, and our Christmas Social. We had 10 “Business After Hours” events, 5 ribbon cuttings, and our involvement and support of the 4th of July Parade, Cruise-ins & new LAKE LIFE LIVE concert series.

Not only does the Chamber organize, host and help at events, much time is spent providing the community with weekly news, bi-monthly newsletters, marketing efforts on Facebook (nearly 7500 followers) & Twitter, and recruiting new members. The Chamber also assists visitors, promotes the coupon and Chamber Bucks programs, and continues to maintain the LOVE sign.

With the support of our members we are also able to continue streaming live videos of our beautiful downtown & Lake Views from three webcams.

Next year, we hope to accomplish even more, and hope that you know we could not do it without our members! Please join our organization for another successful year by renewing your membership. We hope you will consider being a part this great “sailing” (team) and we really look forward to assisting you, the visitors & residents and promoting this great community we all love so much! Join in 2018!

Let us help promote your business or special interest! Join and become “anchored” with the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce- working & growing together is all the power we need to Succeed!

Thank you, in advance, for supporting your Chamber and your community!

It’s official! The Chamber of Commerce in Clarksville, VA is starting a new Farmers Market called “Clarksville Farm Fresh Marketplace”. Based on responses to a prior email sent to many farmers and producers in the area, we feel as though we have enough interest to move forward. This is exciting news for us, and we hope it is for you as well.

Market Details

• The Clarksville Farm Fresh Marketplace will take place on the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 9 am -12:30 pm or while supplies last.
• It will begin on April 28, 2018 and end on October 27, 2018.
• We are currently seeking local products such as: vegetables, fruits, herbs, meat & seafood, eggs, jams & jellies, baked goods, honey, plants & flowers, nuts & seeds, cheese & milk, other agricultural products, etc.
• The location will be in downtown Clarksville, VA, but the specific location depends on the number of vendors.

We are strongly committed to bring fresh local products: every item you see at the market will produced by the people selling it, and it all comes from no more than 100 miles away.

We are looking for local Virginia farmers and artisans. Eligible members must reside and produce items to be sold within a 100-mile radius of Clarksville.

According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension reported that, “Southern Virginia households spending is 15% of their weekly food budget on locally grown food products would generate $90 million in new farm income for the region.”

When you shop at your neighborhood farmers market, not only are you appeasing your taste buds, but you’re giving your community an economic boost. Ever dollar counts to our local farmers & artisans.

Download our Rules & Application Sheet here or Contact the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber for more information and. 434-374-2436

Last Year’s Lakefest Logo

The 41st Lakefest committee is calling out to all local artist to create the next LAKEFEST LOGO for 2018, which could net you an extra $250 in your pocket?

Consider putting your talents to work for the 2018 Virginia Lake Festival (Lakefest) and become the winner of the reward. The Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce encourages area artists to enter the winning logo design for the 41st Lakefest that is scheduled for July 19-21, 2018. In addition to the cash reward, the winning artist will have their design featured on the official 2018 Lakefest t-shirts and on brochures, flyers and other media promotions of the three-day event, plus be promoted in area newspapers for their accomplishment.

Those wanting to enter the contest may download an entry form, pick up an entry form at the Clarksville Chamber of Commerce, 105 Second Street, or pick one up at the Virginia Avenue Mall or call the Chamber and one will be mailed to you. For artwork designs to be considered in the judging, original and signed entries must be delivered to the Clarksville Chamber Office or submitted by mail to the Lake Festival Committee, P.O. Box 1017, Clarksville, VA, 23927, no later than March 12th, 2018. For more information call the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce at (434) 374-2436 or contact us.