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, jewelry made from bicycle spokes, 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, stuffed grape leaves; Mexican–fajitas, quesadillas, burritos; vegetarian offerings, Seafood–shrimp, Mahi Mahi, crab cakes, and calamari; 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.

You are invited to enjoy the nearly 200 vendors that will be in place on Virginia Avenue on Saturday, July 21, 9 am-5 pm. The street will be closed to traffic from 4 am until midnight.