The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE — On Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the eighth annual Alleghany High-lands Heritage Day and Railway Festival will take place in the Alleghany Highlands.
Alleghany Highlands Heritage Day and C&O Railway Festival 2019 is a celebration of the heritage of the Alleghany Highlands, its railway history, and Virginia’s role in the formation of the country — 1619 to present day.
Continuous entertainment in story and song, food from around the globe and our own backyard, quilt exhibits and demonstrations, vendors and displays that entertain, educate and enchant can be seen during the one-day event.
The festival takes place in downtown Clifton Forge, at the restored Historic Masonic Theatre, Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center, the Masonic Amphitheatre, Clifton Forge Public Library, Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church and Clifton Forge School of the Arts.
Travel down the road a block and find more music, food, demonstrations, vendors and displays at the C&O Heritage Center.
The year 1619 was pivotal in the establishment of the first permanent English colony in North America. It was the year of the first representative legislative assembly in the New World, the arrival of the first recorded Africans to English North America, and the recruitment of English women in significant numbers.
Celebrate a day of Virginia milestones with history, food, music and fun … the eighth annual Alleghany Highlands Heritage Day and Railway Festival.
To kick off Heritage Day, the Covington/Hot Springs Rotary Club is sponsoring “Wannabeatles 2019 Tour,” the ultimate Beatles tribute band, at The Historic Masonic Theatre on Friday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m. in the John E. Hillert Auditorium.
Experience all of the magic of the Beatles music with the Grammy-nominated Wannabeatles in a family-friendly show that is filled with great Beatles standards, hilarious parodies and on-stage antics. Tickets are $20, $17 or $15, depending on seating. Box seats are $30.
The celebration continues on Saturday, June 1, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with welcome stations located on Church and Commercial, Church and Jefferson, the Masonic Amphitheatre Bridge, the Historic Masonic Theatre lobby entrance, and C&O Heritage Center.
Admission is free, so check in at the welcome centers to receive a wristband and schedule of events.
Businesses on Ridgeway will also be a part of the festival with Lollie’s Quilt Shop presenting long-arm demonstrations, Fire and Light Gallery presenting the history of photography in addition to an antique camera exhibit, Alleghany Highlands Arts and Crafts Center presenting “Hands-on Women’s Work Through the Years,” demonstrations including spinning, hand-quilting, basket-making, bellows-making, broom-making, felting in miniature and 1940’s-era cooking in a 1940’s kitchen.
“42 Deli’s” menu offers an English sandwich special, Colorful Chameleon’s menu offers Scottish food and Jack Mason’s Tavern’s menu offers a hearty Irish meal.
Additional food vendors may be found at the Masonic Amphitheatre food court, the Historic Masonic Theatre Underground, on Church Street near the School of the Arts Mill, and at C&O Heritage Center.
An English tea tent complete with Celtic harp music, scones and shortbread can be found from 2-3 p.m. on the amphitheatre grounds.
Additionally, the German Biergarten that features German beer, Virginia cider and wine will be back as well as German wurst and sauerkraut, Native American tacos, soul food, Polish sausage, homemade ice cream, fried pickles and strawberries, corn dogs and other delectables will be available throughout the day.
For the second year, a trackless train will carry guests from venue to venue, free of charge.
Heritage Day will once again honor area veterans with a special Library of Virginia-sponsored mobile exhibit called “Profiles of Honor.” The exhibit highlights stories of Virginians who served in World War I and World War II.
“Profiles of Honor” will be open in Friday, May 31 from 12 noon to 6 p.m., as well as on Heritage Day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As part of the tour, visitors are invited to bring their own WWI and WWII-related photos to be scanned for inclusion in the project.
“Profiles of Honor” will be set up on Church Street near the Clifton Forge Library.
“Centuries of Time” will feature a vintage toy and doll exhibit, needleart, Native American music, Wrightsville Museum display, Alleghany Highlands Genealogical Society and Alleghany Historical Society exhibit and display of the future Discovery Center.
Heritage Day favorite quilt pew display returns at the Clifton Forge Presbyterian Church with quilters telling the stories of the quilts they have made.
The Masonic Amphitheatre park will highlight children’s activities (face painting, bubble blowing, games and more) and Heritage farm animals with time for interaction and learning, blacksmithing, a Master Naturalist display featuring regional flora and fauna, and a discovery box with pelts, skulls and scat.
Continuous entertainment begins at 9:55 a.m. when bagpipers and color guard cross the amphitheatre bridge to signal the start of Heritage Day.
Heritage Day committee member Paul Linkenhoker will welcome attendees to a day of remembrance and celebration.
Cloggers, Native American dancers, the Crossing County Lines band, trum Sum Americana band, Reborn Gospel ensemble and Mr. Ed and Winnie and music of the 40’s and 50’s, will be featured at the Masonic Amphitheatre.
Flute, banjo and storytelling with a special presentation on the Alleghany Highlands of the 1800s by Mike Hayslett will be offered in the Thomas P. Dean Underground of the Theatre, and Moonlight Express Band will perform at the C&O Heritage Center. Scheduled times and entertainers may be seen online at www.alleghanyhighlandsheritageday.com
The C&O Heritage Center will feature train layouts, exhibits, railroad collectibles, music and food and mini train rides.
The Clifton Forge School of the Arts will feature heritage hand crafts — woodworking, walking sticks, handmade Alpaca products, Fiber Arts Network demonstrations and children’s products; and pottery and glass-making artist’s area featured in the respective studios.
