Alleghany County’s bicentennial celebration held at Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) in Clifton Forge drew a large crowd on Sat., Sept. 17.
Four bands entertained those who gathered to see the car show that featured more than 30 entries, sample the food and beverages, purchase souvenirs and enjoy the music on the warm, sunny day.
The Alleghany Highlands Blues Society’s band led by Johnny King, lead guitarist and vocalist and newest member of The Virginia Opry, opened the entertainment at 3:00 p.m.
Caleb Carpenter, a local songwriter, vocalist and musician, followed with his band, and Caleb Bailey & Paine’s Run, a bluegrass band from the Shenandoah Valley, played till after dark.
The music continued with EagleMania whose members are from New York and New Jersey. The Eagles tribute band played until it was time for the fireworks that culminated the celebration’s activities.
Those who served on the Alleghany County Bicentennial Celebration Committee are Michele Rucker, owner of the Farm at Glen Haven, Chad Williams, Suzanne Adcock-Nicely, Beverly Bowers, Ricky Bourne, Teresa Hammond, Paul Linkenhoker, Shelly Mongold and Pam Warren.
Besides the food tents, food trailers, souvenir tables and crafts tents that were situated adjacent to the Moomaw Center, a special portable playground area was set up for children near Piney Point.
The Fincastle Baptist Church sponsored and supervised the playground area that featured four inflated playground attractions for children and a simulated rock tower for climbing.
Children were scrambling through Radical Run, an inflated obstacle course; sliding down Adrenaline Rush Extreme, a two-way slide; and bouncing in two unnamed bounce houses.
Adjacent to the bounce houses, others were taking turns climbing the rock tower that provided them with safety harnesses attached to ropes on pulleys to prevent injuries. Alleghany County Sheriff Kevin Hall attended the celebration, and his deputies directed traffic with the help of first responders and volunteers.
By the time the Eagle tribute band took the stage, vehicles nearly filled the grassy field in front of MGCC in addition to the regular spaces in the parking lots.
The Alleghany County Bicentennial Celebration was hosted by MGCC and sponsored by The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism, and Alleghany County.
