Buchanan celebrates its 23rd annual Mountain Magic In Fall Bluegrass, Antiques and Crafts Festival this Saturday, Oct. 7 at the Town Park on Lowe Street.
Activities begin 10 a.m. and continue through 5 p.m.
Thousands of visitors are expected for the festival that has more than 120 vendor spaces lining the town’s riverfront park. Organizers say there should be a little bit of something for everyone, including furniture, candles, knitted and crocheted items, wood crafts, glass, birdhouses, antiques, art, local honey, pumpkins, apples, jewelry, bird houses, primitives, baked goods, scented oils and so much more.
Some of the unique vendors include Bonnie Scott of Salem, who will be demonstrating how she makes glass beads for her custom and unique jewelry.
Jim Dodd of Buchanan will be showing his handmade canoes that are a real show of craftsmanship and art.
A few new vendors with Buchanan roots include Jeremy Lorton, who sells under the name Reprised Possessions. He specializes in adaptive reuse of vintage furniture into new family treasures. Melina Marshall sells under the name of Pail & Petal Flower Farm and offers cut flowers, pumpkins and decorative gourds.
A celebration of the town’s revitalization activities, Mountain Magic in Fall showcases the town’s historic roots along Main Street where visitors find antiques, arts, collectibles as well as restaurants offering good old-fashioned southern cooking, pizza and burgers.
Buchanan’s historic buildings date from the early 1800s through the 1950s.
New faces to Main Street who are in the process of opening include Wanda Drake with Backwoods Country that will offer antiques, gifts and collectibles. Backwoods Country opens this weekend.
A second new business is called Amish Made & More by Kristy and Brian Wirp. They opened in the front of Ransone’s Drugstore offering handmade décor.
Main Street businesses will be offering sidewalk sales as well as some homemade food for lunch or dinner.
Kid’s Costume Parade & Crafts
This year’s Mountain Magic features a Kid’s Costume Parade and Pumpkin Decorating Station that is sponsored by Hair Affair.
Kids are asked to meet at 10:45 a.m. at the Picnic Pavilion next to the Food Concession Stand with their costume on for a parade.
Additional activities include free crafts where kids may decorate pumpkins and lanterns as well as make cards for Veteran’s Day, Halloween, and Christmas. These cards will be delivered to patients in the Salem VA Hospital Hospice Care Unit.
Bluegrass Music Schedule
The Bank of Botetourt Stage at the Town Park will have a series of traditional and contemporary bluegrass musicians perform during the festival.
Visitors are invited to bring a lawn chair and sit a spell. Seven bands will be playing and singing.
The musical performances help keep the musical heritage of bluegrass alive, organizers said, and introduce new generations of listeners to this uniquely American form of music. This year’s musical and dance performances are sponsored by Bank of Botetourt. The Bank of Botetourt has been a sponsor of Mountain Magic In Fall since the festival’s beginning in 1995.
Performance Schedule
10-10:30 a.m. – Rebecca Bryant
10:30-11:30 a.m. – Blue Connection
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. – New Corner Grocery Gang
12:30-1:30 p.m. – Jason Harris & Friends
1:30-2 p.m. – Rebels of Rhythm Cloggers
2-3 p.m. – Haymaker Town Express
3-4 p.m. – Phat Grass
4-5 p.m. – Virginia Carolina Band
Festival Shirts
Mountain Magic T-shirts and hooded sweatshirts will be available at the festival. This year’s shirt features a banjo with Purgatory Mountain in the background.
Proceeds from the sale of these items benefit downtown revitalization efforts such as the hosting Mountain Magic In Fall, Twilight In Buchanan, the planting of flowering barrels along Main Street and other activities.
The shirt booth will be located near the Bluegrass Performance Stage. Costs for shirts are $10 for adult T-shirts, $15 for long sleeve T-shirts and $20 for hooded sweatshirts.
For more information about the festival, visit the town’s website at www.townofbuchanan.com.
