This year the 45th annual Wilderness Trail Festival takes place in downtown Christiansburg Saturday, Sept. 15 with Wayne Henderson/Helen concert kicking off the event Friday, Sept 14.
The concert begins with the Indian Run String Band from 6:30-7:15 p.m. with Wayne Henderson and Helen White taking the Stage from 7:30-8:45 p.m.
Ticket prices are: advance reserved (first two rows) $20; advance regular tickets $15 and tickets at the door are $20. For ticket information, call 540-239-7058.
A new Home Improvement Row is being added this year and will be located on West Main Street near Burger King.
It will be available to anyone involved in the home improvement business. For more information and an application, visit: www.wildernesstrailfestival.com.
Also, the overall festival footprint continues to grow as an additional food court is added, the number of vendors has grown and it now extends from Burger King to town hall on Hickok Street and College Avenue.
In past years, the arts and craft festival has drawn from 7,500 to 10,000 attendees from all over Virginia and neighboring states.
The event will include local arts and crafts vendors, craft demonstrations, a children’s area, two stages, an emergencies services area, Blue Ridge Model A’s, classic Cars, fresh food and more.
Also, Shentel will be broadcasting NCAA football games, including the VT game with East Carolina.
The live crafters in the heritage and skills area has been greatly enhanced and will be located on East Main Street near town hall.
The area will include: two blacksmiths; a wood turner; a quilter; two basket makers; a bullet maker; a millstone preservationist; hand crafted leather; a corn shuck chair bottomer; a hand made table and chair maker; demonstrations of hand spun and dyed yarn/wool and fur, and feathers and scales (birds and snakes).
The community stage will be in the medical parking lot at the corner of Main and Hickok streets with performances beginning at 9 a.m. and ending at 4 p.m.
Performers include: Little Leapers, Blue Ridge Dance, Christiansburg High School Chamber Ensemble, NRV Traditional Karate, Appalachian Aftershock, Petersons Kempo Karate, Westover Ballet School, Christiansburg Drama Club and Tora Martial Arts.
A second stage will be located near the corner Main and North Franklin streets. This local youth talent stage will feature young performers from this area.
This year there will be two food courts with at least ten vendors preparing and cooking fresh food including: hotdogs, hamburgers, meatball subs, pork barbecue, Chinese food, kettle corn, pizza, chicken wings, snow cones and ice cream.
One food court will be located on College Street and the other near the Main and Franklin intersection
The Model A’s and classic cars will be back again this year in the Presbyterian Church lot.
The children’s area, located in back of Old Town Mall, will include train rides and bouncy houses.
Fire engine from the town’s fire department, Christiansburg and Montgomery County police cars and other attractions for children will be located at Main and Franklin streets. All children’s activities are free.
Proceeds from this event benefit youth focused programs of the Kiwanis Club of Christiansburg, which assumed operation of the festival from the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce in 2009.
Admission, parking and the children area, including all activities, are free.
For more information, call 540-239-7058 or visit www.wildernesstrailfestival.com.
