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The 18th annual Harvest Days Festival will bring a major celebration to Virginia’s only lakeside town on October 4th & 5th and most activities are free to the public.  Please note that Virginia Avenue from 3rd to 6th will be closed from 7 am to 9 pm on October 5th to accommodate all the activities & safety concerns, during the Harvest Days Festival!

Starting, Friday October 4th (4-7 pm) 

Mecklenburg’s Finest Chili Cook-off – Virginia Avenue Mall’s Back lot. Enter your best Chili, Stew or soup recipe & compete for your Charity. Or stop by and taste the entries.  For more information contact the Virginia Avenue Mall at 434-374-5949

Oktoberfest Beer Garden (7 pm- 10 pm)

We are bringing the beer garden back again this year, with a slight change it will be Friday evening 7 pm to 10 pm, before the actual Harvest Days Festival. This event for 21 years of age and older. ID will be needed to get into the gate. The location will be at the corner of 5th & Virginia Avenue in the grassy lot near New York Life.  The cost is $7 at the gate, which includes first glass & an Oktoberfest bottle Koozie. There will be great selection of fall craft beer available for $3 a glass. The Craft offerings will be Shiner Oktoberfest, Leinenkugel’s Orange, Woodchuck Fall Cider.  On tap we will have New Belgium Pumpkick, Sam Adams Oktoberfest

To entertain us… DoubleShot Acoustic, a 3 piece band based out of South Hill, Va. Members include Colt Rodwell (lead vocalist), James Gaskins (Bass), and Kevin Smiley (Guitar). Each member has performed with several bands over the years and has come together to give you an exciting variety of explosive music!! Our arsenal of tunes includes Classic Rock, Country, Motown, Funk, Blues!!! We play some older classics and mix it in with a twist of new TOP 20 from today!!

For more information contact our office at Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce, 105 Second St, Clarksville. 434-374-2436

Crafts, Food, Vendors (9am – 3pm)

Over 50 craft, food & commercial vendors that will line up along Virginia Avenue from 9am to 3 pm, offering everything from fall decorations, baked goods, funnel cakes, antiques, antiquity and specialty items.

Children’s Activities (10am-2pm)

Activities for the children will be from 10am- 2 pm, starting at  the corner of 4th & Virginia Avenue, Cornerstone Farms will host their farm of pet friendly animals & pony rides, Chris Williamson, will be offering free hayrides for everyone from 10 am to 2 pm.  At the corner of 5th & Virginia Ave will be games & crafts for the children. In the craft section for $1 they can decorate a pumpkin, make a memorable fall picture frame or a fall necklace.  The game area, kids can purchase a $5 game card that has ten fun games that they play for points and once they finish they add their points up and bring it to the prize table and choose their matching prize. Bring your kids to the Scarecrow & Sunflower cutout board and take a memorable picture of them and their fun day at the Harvest Days Festival! The scarecrow character board was painted by Ray Cherry, Boydton, VA.

Give me Shelter-Paws on Parade (10am-12:30)

Enter your favorite dog in this fun fundraiser for the SPCA. Applications available at the Chamber office or download here! ENTRY FEE $25 per DOG SHOW OFF YOUR POOCH! COMPETE FOR FABULOUS PRIZES! Includes a Photo of You & Your Dog, plus a fun Doggie-Goodie Bag for the first 25 Dogs Entered

CONTESTS & PRIZES!

• Best Dressed
• Best Owner-Dog Look Alike
• Most Unique
• Saddest Face
• Ugliest Dog
• Best Trick

Absolute Auction (Noon-?)

Absolute Auction items for the 15th annual Harvest Days Festival will be going on the “auction block” in Downtown Clarksville Saturday, October 5, at noon.  A total value of over $2200 of superb items have been received for the auction and provided to the Chamber by members—so it will definitely be a “crowd-pleasing event.”

Listed here are the items along with the Clarksville Chamber Businesses that graciously donated towards this auction:

• Autumn Flag with Candle & Decorative flowers~ Avenue Floral & Design
• Lawn & Garden Sprinkler~ Berry Hill Irrigation
• Duck Dynasty Cutting Board~ Bobcat’s Bait & Tackle
• Shark Pillow~ Bobcat’s Bait & Tackle
• Fishing Rod & Reel~ Bobcat’s Bait & Tackle
• Black Messenger Bag~ Clarksville Chamber
• Blanket & Coffee Mug~ Clarksville Chamber
• LED swivel lantern & work light~ Clarksville Chamber
• Rubbermaid Cooler~ Clarksville Ace Hardware
• 2010-2013 Youth small Lakefest t’s~ Clarksville Chamber
• 2010-2013 Youth Medium Lakefest t’s~ Clarksville Chamber
• 2 X 2013 Lakefest T-shirt~ Clarksville Chamber
• XL 2013 Lakefest T-shirt~ Clarksville Chamber
• Decorative Witch with Candle Holder~ Clarksville Furniture
• Jim Shore Pilgrim Figurine~ Clarksville Furniture
• 1 Day Pontoon Rental Boat~ Clarksville Marina, Inc.
• $10 Gift Certificate~ Clarksville Tire
• $10 Gift Certificate~ Clarksville Tire
• Frontline for Cats~ Clarksville Vet
• Frontline for Dogs~ Clarksville Vet
• Inflatable Lounge Float~ Water Sports
• One night stay at the Inn~ Cooper’s Landing Inn
• Handmade Blue Scarf ~ Creative Images/Myrna McGunis
• Orange Fall Mum~ Docks-n-More LLC
• 4 Plastic Tailgating Chair Cups~ DoodleBug’s
•  Set of five ornament owls~ Farm Bureau Insurance
• Wine & Cheese for Two~ Galleria
• Flickering Light Canvas~ Grandfather’s Country Creations
• $10 Gift Certificate~ Great Wall Chinese Restaurant
• Hand Carves Hummingbird pendant~ (Hall’s) Lakeside Gallery
• Brighton Gift Bag (Scarf, Cell phone holder, sunglasses case) ~ Hite’s
• Lake Country SPCA Cookbook~ Holly Burnette/LCSPCA
• One Hour Massage~ Lakeside Therapies
• Custom Corn hole Boards~ Lakeside Video Tan & Gift
• Decorative Tole Tray~ Lynn Smith (VA Ave Mall booth)
• Decorative Wooden Star with White Lights~ Mike Wagstaff Construction
• $25 Gift Certificate~ Morningstar’s Bed Bath & Curtain Outlet
• Evercraft 36 pc. SAE & Metric socket set~ Clarksville Auto (NAPA)
• Automatic Inflatable Life Vest~ Southside Marina & Auto
• Intex Inflatable Downy Bed, Queen Size~ Talbert’s Building Supply
• $25 Gift Certificate~ the Lamplighter
• $25 Gift Certificate~ the Market/Ann Gordon
• 6 Months Free Household Membership~ the Mecklenburg YMCA
• $20 Gift Certificate~ the Pizza Pub
• “Two Mecklenburg Towns, Boydton & Clarksville” Book~ Town of Clarksville

Proceeds will benefit the Chamber’s upcoming projects, which include the “Holiday Open House” on November 24th, and the Clarksville Christmas Parade slated for December 6th. The absolute auction will be conducted at the front entrance of Virginia Avenue Mall, 317 Virginia Avenue.  Preview the auction items on display in one of the Mall’s front windows.

Lake Country Cruisers ~ Cruise In (4pm)

Starting at 3 pm the Lake Country Cruisers will cruise-in to showcase their cool ride for the last time this year from 4 pm to 9 pm, along Virginia Avenue.

Harvest Days festival is coordinated by the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce. For more information contact the Clarksville Chamber, 374-2436.

  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 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 along with a host of games & crafts for the kids to participate in and a galore of farm animals to see, & ponies to ride.

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. This year the festival will continue into the late afternoon & evening, 4 pm-9 pm with the Lake Country Cruise-in & local music talent. Harvest Days Festival is hosted by the Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce. For more information contact us or call(434) 374-2436.

The Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce would like to congratulate all of this year’s entries into the Arts & Crafts Show for their hard work and excellence in artistry. This year’s winners are especially to be celebrated in standing out amidst so much talent. Thank you!

1st Place

A Living Art Topiary
Rebecca Willis of Mooresburg, Tn
Animal shaped forms made from moss & plants

2nd Place

The Mad Hatter’s Follies
Marilyn Perkey, Burlington, NC
Upcycled Décor made from Dishes & Bric & Brac

3rd Place

Natures Legacy
Sandie Smith, Ruther Glen, VA
Wildlife photography taken around the world

Honorable Mention

McKinsey Bamber Jewelry
Mckinsey Bamber, Richmond VA
Sterling silver jewelry with brass, copper & precious stones

Here comes the 36th Annual Lakefest! This year is looking to be a wonderful time of celebration here in Virginia’s only Lakeside Town. Below you’ll find detailed information on some of this year’s happenings; from Helicopter Rides to The Antique Auto Show, and a 5K Run/walk-hosted by the Clarksville YMCA. For registration details and to sign up to participate in the 5K Run call 434-374-5858. Please use the links below and to the left to explore just some of this year’s offerings.

Juried Arts & Crafts Show
Antique Auto Show
Games & Rides
Sand Sculpture Artist
Helicopter Rides
Free Kids Balloon Rides
Musical Guests ~ Friday and Saturday
Lakefest IDOL Competition
T-Shirts
Lakefest Up, Up & Away Raffle
Shuttle & Parking Information
Schedule of Events

The Clarksville Lake Country Chamber of Commerce & Clarksville Community Players are thrilled to announce the 2013 Lakefest Idol Winner…Destiny Monet Townes, from Chase City, VA. Destiny and 11 other contestants performed before a large crowd this past Saturday. Each contestant performed their songs and the audience had their chance to vote their top three favorites. They all performed so well and I am sure it was tough to choose, but only one could win and Destiny Townes took front stage. Heather Wilson of Chase City was named runner up. The song that Destiny sang that won everyone over was “Someone Like You” by Adele.

Destiny is 11 years old and attends Bluestone Middle; she loves music and loves to play softball. Destiny was sponsored by the Chase City Art club who saw her talent and entered her into the contest.
Thank you to Benchmark Community Bank for their sponsorship of the 2013 Lake Fest Idol.

We look forward to next year.  We couldn’t be more excited about next year and are looking forward to Destiny Townes as she will perform her winning song at this year’s Welcoming ceremonies July 19th at 7 pm.

The Clarksville Chamber is very excited & thankful to have teamed up with Three T-shirt Sponsors for this year’s Lake Festival! Pictured above displaying the official Lakefest t-shirt with their logo on the sleeves of this years design, is Holly Elliott of HP, Heather Carson, of Wells Fargo & President of the Clarksville Ruritans Club, Julie Ames.

The Official 2013 Lakefest t-shirts have arrived and they are spectacular! The artwork depicted on the back of each shirt depicts a Virginia License plate—the hot-air balloons and the fireworks; Chris Clark of Mountain, WI created the winning Lakefest design. Each shirt also has the official ADMIRAL Sponsor, HP Logo on the right sleeve, & our two Captain sponsors, Clarksville Ruritans & Wells Fargo logo imprinted on the left sleeve.

The shirts come in a variety of colors—White, Metro Blue, Irish Green, Purple & Pink & Yellow and they range in sizes from youth small to adult XXX-large. Youth shirts are $14 each, adults up to x-large are $18 and XX’s and XXX’s are $20.

We also have brought back a limited supply of TANKS in white & purple this year from small to XL sizes. Get yours before they are gone!

T-shirts are now available at the Clarksville Chamber Office (105 Second Street), and will be available at the Virginia Avenue Mall (317 Virginia Avenue) and at 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 36th annual Lakefest is scheduled for July 18-20.

This year’s Lakefest raffle host prizes that will guarantee memories that will last a lifetime for two lucky winners at LAKEFEST this summer! The UP, UP & AWAY Raffle will have you soaring above the Lake and with the many prizes that are included, this raffle will for sure capture that moment for a long, long time!

New this year – TWO opportunities to win the UP, UP & AWAY give-a-ways

First Drawing Winner will win:

• A Helicopter Ride
• The Official 2013 LAKEFEST T-shirt
• The Official 2013 LAKEFEST Hat

The GRAND PRIZE WINNER will win:

• A HOT AIR BALLOON RIDE for TWO*
• FujiFilm Digital Camera to capture those memories
• One-of-a-Kind LAKEFEST Puzzle
• TWO LAKEFEST T-shirts & Hats
• LAKEFEST Balloon Crystal
• LAKEFEST Souvenirs

The drawing will be held on Friday evening during one of the band’s breaks on July 19, at the main stage area (behind Wells Fargo Bank) and you need not be present to win. This raffle is valued at more than $1700.

Tickets for the LAKEFEST 2013 UP, UP & AWAY Raffle are available at the Clarksville Chamber Office (105 Second Street); they are $5 per ticket or three for $12 or six for $20. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Lakefest funds that help to supplement the costs involved with the hot air balloons, fireworks and many other venues of the 36th annual event (slated for July 18-20). For more information on the raffle or the festival, call the Chamber at 434-374-2436.

  The 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, Maryland, Georgia. The crafters have been extremely active in applying for this year’s show. Water ink, acrylic and oil paintings…even face painters, 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? As of this moment, we have more than 20 food vendors…only two of similar offerings are approved by the jury…thus, there will be an extraordinary amount of variety. In addition to the typical festival foods such as polish sausages, gyros, blooming onions, kettle corn, coated nuts, deep-fried candy bars/cookies and funnel cakes with your choice of toppings…the ethnic choices will include Caribbean–jerk chicken, shawarma, hummas; vegetarian offerings, Seafood–shrimp, crab cakes, fish tacos; Thai choices–Satay, vegetable cakes and spring rolls; Items to cool one down on a hot summer day…fresh squeezed lemonade, smoothies and icees, frozen drinks such as Pina Colodas and Bahama Mamas, snowcones, homemade ice creams and old fashioned floats & yogurt…Sweet Frog!

You are invited to enjoy the nearly 200 vendors that will be in place on Virginia Avenue on Saturday, July 20, 9 am-5 pm. The street will be closed to traffic from 4 am until midnight. (Pictured are products from: Amazing Dresses, stuffed toys from jellykoe & jewelry from Liz Mitchell Designs)

Live on Stage July 19th: J B and the Get Down Brown’s

are a five piece band based out of South Central Virginia. Formed in 2009, the band has grown in popularity in Virginia, North Carolina and the East Coast by playing the best of R&B, Blues, Classic Rock and a touch of Beach music. All of the members have played in regional bands in the South Central Virginia area for over 25 years. In 2009, the band members got together to play a few private parties and their popularity spread throughout the region. They are known for having lots of fun on stage which is contagious to the crowd. All of the members sing lead vocals which enables the band to provide a wide range of entertainment. Playing festivals, weddings, restaurants, benefits, and private parties, J B and the Get Down Brown’s are one of the East Coast’s premier good time party bands.

Performing live on Stage July 20th, Improbable Cause!

Drummer Bill Watson formed local band “Improbable Cause” approximately two years ago. The moving force behind the band’s formation was to display the enormous natural talents of the band’s then fifteen year old lead guitarist and vocalist Adam Snow. Bill and Adam met at an informal jam session at a local Halifax business and after hearing Adam play Bill was so impressed he decided to dust off his old drum kit and seek out additional band members

The first and most obvious pick Ironically was Ronnie Snow Adam’s father. Ronnie had played guitar in several country bands in Southside Virginia. Bassist and vocalist Jerry Lovelace was next to join the group. Jerry’s prior musical experience was mainly limited to bluegrass. The group’s last edition was keyboard player Randy Savage who is an accomplished musician in his own right.

The band’s eclectic sound comes from the many diverse influences including Adam’s love of blues and rock, Bill’s experience playing rock in the late seventies, Ronnie’s country music roots, and Jerry’s love of bluegrass music. To this unique sound is added the classic strains of Randy’s key board. It is not a cliche to say that this band’s large repertoire of sounds includes music for everyone regardless of age or music preference.
Please take the opportunity to hear one of the best young guitarists and vocalist in the area, Adam Snow.

So if you’re are into rock, blues, country, country western, bluegrass, rap, beach, or contemporary music this band is for you.

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 18, 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 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.

This year’s Lakefest raffle is a host of prizes that will soar above the rest in a whole new way to 1 lucky winner!

This year’s “Lakefest Raffle ~ Up, Up & Away” , valued at over $1700, includes:

• More details to come

The drawing will be held on Friday evening during one of the band’s breaks on July 19, at the main stage area (behind Wells Fargo) and you need not be present to win. The person holding the winning ticket will win all of the gifts in the “Lakefest Raffle ~ Up, Up & Away”. Tickets are $5 each, $12 for three and $20 for six. You can purchase tickets at the Lake Country Chamber of Commerce, 105 2nd Street. All proceeds will benefit The Chamber’s future projects.

Enter your antique automobiles in the 19th annual Antique Auto Show, which will be featured at Lakefest in Clarksville on Saturday, July 20, 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 1) Hard Luck Story, 2) Oldest Vehicle, 3) Longest Distance Traveled, 4) Diamond in the Rough and 5) 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) 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.

Bob Murphy, an organizer of the antique auto show is shown with two vehicles that he will be entering: on the left is a 1937 Ford, which took part in the July 2010 Dupont Registry, was the “Good Guys” pick at Myrtle Beach this year and it also won the PPG award in York, PA. Car on the right is a rare 1972 Buick Grand Sport Convertible–only 39 were made. Other organizers of the auto show are Lise Burnett, Glen Burney, and Jackie Lilly. The late Tom Lilly, husband of Jackie Lilly, originally sponsored this show.

• Trucker’s Parade for Cancer, Charlotte County & Nelson County, Va.
• Farmville Chamber of Commerce
• Ruritan Club of South Hill Va.
• Phenix Volunteer Fire Dept.

Beginning on the early morning of July 18, Alan Matsumoto and his friends will start their creative adventure in making a “larger than life” sand sculpture for the 36^th annual Virginia Lake Festival.  Starting with several tons of sand…Matsumoto and his fellow sculptures begin the process of making a creation from the ground up.  It is fascinating to watch them work and attempt to figure out exactly what the ending result will be.  He may give some helpful hints along the way…

Matsumoto served as a structural engineer in Vancouver, Canada for 19 years and has been professionally sand sculpting fulltime now for 21 years.  He currently lives in Roanoke, VA.

He shared the World Champion Sand sculpting title my teammates for seven years straight, held a Guinness World Record in sand sculpting, and has appeared in various media including National Geographic magazine and on the NBC Today Show.  Matsumoto has also been the National Snow sculpting Champion of Canada and twice Champion of Province of British Columbia.

His professional sand sculptures have been seen in more than 24 State Fairs
and more County Fairs, malls, and festivals from Florida to Alaska and
Hawaii. He has created sand sculptures in other countries and cities that include Perth, Melbourne, Sydney Australia, Luliang, Sanya China, Johannesburg South Africa, Venice Italy, Aruba, Calgary, Winnipeg, and Quebec City.  In 2010 he was called to carve snow for the NBC Today Show during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Be sure to stop by and check out his work starting Thursday morning, July 18 and stop by often to check on his progress until he finishes up the project on Saturday, July 20, around noon.

Alan and team in 2010 at the 33rd annual Lakefest