LOW MOOR, Va. (VR) — It’s a celebration 200 years in the making. Alleghany County’s bicentennial celebration is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 17, at Mountain Gateway Community College in Clifton Forge from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. with a plethora of activities on the agenda. This free event includes a car show, kids’ fest, dance performances, food and retail vendors, live music and a beer garden.
“There couldn’t be a better event to get the kids out of the house as this one coming up Sept. 17,” said Michelle Rucker, an organizer of the event and member of the Alleghany County Bicentennial Celebration Committee. “It is free to the community, and as long as the weather cooperates, we hope for a great turnout. Yes, there are a few other events happening the weekend of the bicentennial, but that’s the risk one takes when planning any event on such short notice. Nonetheless, I commend the county for moving forward because Alleghany is steeped in history, and it would be a shame to forget it.”
Rucker is the owner and operator of Green Hops Productions and The Farm at Glen Haven, a premiere event venue located just east of Clifton Forge. She has accumulated almost 20 years of experience in the event industry and was called on to assist in the planning of the bicentennial celebration.
“We will have representatives from the Alleghany Historical Society and other local historical preservation groups present, as well as some fabulous food vendors and wonderful live music,” Rucker added.
EagleMania, an Eagles tribute band, headlines an evening of live entertainment. According to their website, EagleMania has spent countless hours breaking down everything the Eagles recorded on their albums and reproducing those songs in the most authentic way possible. Their setlist includes many of the Eagles’ greatest hits along with solo works by Don Henley, Glenn Frey and Joe Walsh.
EagleMania has performed all over the country with their five-part harmonies and their ability to capture the unmistakable sound of the Eagles, a 1998 inductee into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Band members include Frankie Reno, keyboards and vocals; John Gaechter, guitar and vocals; J.D. Kelly, lead vocals; Ken Darcy, guitar and vocals; Jon Weiswasser, drums; and Dennis Espantman, bass.
Other entertainment will be provided by Caleb Bailey & Paine’s Run along with Caleb Carpenter. Bailey is a singer/songwriter from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia who loves bluegrass and country music. He is a former member of the bluegrass band Allegheny Blue, and he owns and operates C.B. Bailey Publishing Company.
The band’s lyric video of “Camille” was No. 2 in August on the Bluegrass Standard Magazine Video Chart.
Carpenter, a singer and songwriter, has been involved in the music industry for over 15 years. A graduate of Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, Carpenter has been a part of several local, regional and national touring acts, most notable the Brightwork Band of Roanoke.
In 2016, Brightwork was selected as the CFA national contest winner, recognizing the band as one of the best up-and-coming artists in their genre. The band has performed on radio, shared the stage with world renowned acts and performed all over the country.
Rucker outlined other entertainment scheduled throughout the day. “Competition no more: There is going to be a terrific collaboration from Patsy’s Dance Studio and Garlynda’s Fancy Feet. They have recently joined forces to create their own competition dance troupe, and that should be fun to watch,” she said.
“Probably the most enjoyable part for families, though, is what Fincastle Baptist Church is bringing to the table,” Rucker continued. “They are helping host an amazing kids’ festival within the event that will include a mechanical bull, rock climbing wall, 100-foot inflatable obstacle course, 20-foot double lane slide and bounce houses for the little ones. Between all the fun inflatables, tie dying, face painting, icees and funnel cakes, the kids are going to have a blast.”
A full day of fun-filled events and music will end with a fireworks display.
“The night is going to wind down with a not-to-be-missed fireworks show launched by Alleghany’s finest, Ray Keen, which is sure to be the icing on the cake,” Rucker said. “We haven’t watched fireworks from the Dabney, now Mountain Gateway, campus in decades.”
Dr. John Rainone, president of Mountain Gateway, said the college is excited to host the Alleghany County Bicentennial Celebration. Mountain Gateway, formerly known as Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, has been a part of Alleghany County’s educational landscape for over 60 years. The college was renamed Mountain Gateway on July 1.
“Mountain Gateway Community College is proud to serve as the host for this 200th anniversary celebration,” Dr. Rainone said. “The college’s middle name is ‘Community,’ and we are proud to be serving this community for over 60 years.”
Alleghany County was formed from parts of Botetourt and Bath along with a portion of Monroe County, now a part of West Virginia, on Jan. 5, 1822, by an act of the Virginia General Assembly. Its name was taken from an old Indian word meaning “endless,” which was used to describe the Appalachian Mountains that surround the county.
“As a newcomer to the area, I find the county’s rich history fascinating and am proud to be a part of the bicentennial events and festivities,” said Alleghany County administrator Reid Walters, who just assumed his county leadership role earlier this year and is a member of the bicentennial celebration committee. “I see the adventuresome spirit that the early settlers had to still be a part of the wonderful culture of the Alleghany Highlands today. I hope many will join us on Sept. 17 at Mountain Gateway Community College, as we host a celebration of Alleghany County.”
Alleghany County is comprised of 449 square miles, much of which is national forest land. According to the 2020 U.S. Census, its population stood at 15,223.
Other members of the Alleghany County Bicentennial Celebration Committee include Chad Williams, Suzanne Adcock-Nicely, Beverly Bowers, Ricky Bourne, Teresa Hammond, Paul Linkenhoker, Shelly Mongold and Pam Warren.
“I know it sounds a little grim, but none of us will be around to celebrate our own 200 hundredth birthdays,” Rucker concluded with a laugh. “But we can all come out and celebrate Alleghany’s! I hope we sing!”
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