The 7th Annual Meadows of Dan Folk Fair will be held on Saturday, August 20, 2011, with activities from 10 AM to 7 PM. Continuing the tradition of showcasing the heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the merchants and organizations throughout Meadows of D

Meadows of Dan Community Celebrates Local Heritage in 7th Annual Folk Fair The 7th Annual Meadows of Dan Folk Fair will be held on Saturday, August 20,2011, with activities from 10 AM to 7 PM. Continuing the tradition of showcasing the heritage of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the merchants and organizations throughout Meadows of Dan will be sponsoring free demonstrations of heritage arts, music and a play. The Meadows of Dan Folk Fair is held in association with the Virginia Peach Festival, sponsored by the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce, and is part of a week of festival events. The Folk Fair is sponsored by the Meadows of Dan Community Association. All events are free and there is no admission charge. As always, heritage music is a strong part of the Folk Fair, with popular local musicians and bands appearing all over town throughout the day and into the evening. Popular bands The Country Boys (3-5pm), The Lighthouse Singers (5pm) and Sweet Water Trio (11am) and will be appearing through the day. A craft show will be featured running from 10 AM to 5 PM at Mountain Meadow Farm/Corn Maze, and located throughout town there will be heritage demonstrations of blacksmithing, wood-turning, hand spinning and other heritage arts and crafts. Local author Aaron McAlexander will be signing his new book about Mayberry at the Mountain Meadow Craft shop. The "Corn Acoustics!" Corn Maze will be open and a display of farm animals will be present. There will be a hit ‘n miss engine driven grist mill at Mountain Meadow Craft Shop offering fresh ground corn meal for sale. A favorite with kids and adults alike is the ride through the charming country roads and fields of Meadows of Dan in the Belgian horse and wagon. Local peaches and peach desserts honoring the Virginia Peach festival will be available for sale and local artisans Pam and Gurney Royall will demonstrate the old-time techniques for making peach butter in a copper kettle. Fresh peaches straight from the orchard and other local produce will also be available at shops though the area. Antiques, collectibles and more will be featured at different locations. Poor Farmer’s Market is hosting Mayberry Presbyterian Church’s fundraising bake sale and the Fire & Support Team will offer food as a fundraiser at Mountain Meadow Farm/Corn Maze. Other merchants and organizations are working on more events and updates will be posted at the community web site at http://www.meadowsofdanva.com until the day of the festival. A program will be handed out at the event listing the many activities available. The highlight of the day is a new play, Heaven on Wheels, a new musical comedy about the history of stock car racin' presented by Once Upon a Blue Ridge. Set in Lover's Leap, VA, Heaven on Wheels will come home to Meadows of Dan at the folk fair on Saturday, August 20st at 1 PM at Poor Farmer's Market. The Virginia Peach Festival, or "Peach Week" in Patrick County begins on Monday, Saturday, August 13, with the State Peach Pageant at the Historic Star Theater in Stuart, Virginia, at 2 PM. Admission $3.00. Key West Band, 58 West and Jason Harris and Friends will perform at DeHart Park, 212 Johnson Street in Stuart on Friday, August 19, for the traditional music festival of the week. Gates open at 4 PM; music begins at 5:30 PM. For more information contact the Patrick County Chamber office at 276-694-6012. For more information about the Meadows of Dan Folk Fair call 276-952-5568 or check the web page at http://www.meadowsofdanva.com. Vendor spaces are still available throughout town for food, crafters, churches and organizations.