Do you love music and good food? How about craft vendors, artists, local food and beverages, kettle corn, pork rinds, ice cream, Pie Lady Pies, the Fincastle Cafe, memorabilia, quilt shows, the amazing history of the area from the founding of Fincastle to today, book sales, a car show, entertainment for young people and more?
If so, plan on being in Fincastle all day and into the evening Saturday, Sept. 21 for the 51st annual Fincastle Festival, which will offer all of the above plus much more until 4 p.m. Then join the party, “Fired Up,” at the Fire Department from 4 p.m. onward.
The Festival, sponsored by Historic Fincastle Inc. (HFI) in conjunction with the Town of Fincastle and the Fincastle Volunteer Fire Department, has developed into a memorable and entertaining event over the years and this year’s festival, based on early work and the success of last year, is expected to be larger and even more diversified. Events are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. and continue until 9 that night.
Music will be available at several locations, the main stage next to the courthouse, offering bluegrass and local talents, and at the Fincastle Library with “Music on the Porch” where local performers will provide acoustic entertainment. Local food vendors will be spread throughout the area offering Copper Mtn Kettle Corn, “Pie Lady” pies, Sunshine Girls’ ice cream, Pork Poppers’ pork rinds, as well as burgers, dogs, and BBQ meals from other vendors plus delicious choices at the new Fincastle Café on Roanoke Street.
“Fired Up” from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the local fire station on Rt. 220 will offer music, the firemen’s famous BBQ chicken dinners, beer, and other beverages along with activities and entertainment for young people. This event is presented by the Fincastle Volunteer Fire Department and Big Lick Entertainment in partnership with the Town of Fincastle and HFI. The evening’s music will be provided by Seven Mile Ford. Tickets are $5 for the evening event and can be purchased at the Festival or at the gate.
Sponsors of the Festival include the major sponsor, The Bank of Fincastle, and other sponsors: APX, MW Dunbar Construction, Freedom First Credit Union, Heritage Family Market, LUMOS, MKB Realtors, Oakey’s, Snap-On, and Woodsdale Events. “Fired UP” is sponsored by Bank of Botetourt, with other sponsors: Cardinal Rubber, Bryant Orchards, Prestige Lawn and Landscape, and Re/Max.
Beyond the food and music, the Festival from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. includes numerous craft vendors, artists, memorabilia, a quilt show, library book sale, car show, and a “Touch-A-Truck” area where young people can touch and actually climb into a variety of large trucks. It will also include a wide variety of historically significant events including viewing the hundreds of historic documents and records from the day Fincastle was founded to present day, including those by numerous presidents of the United States and others, some of whom lived in the area and others who communicated with them when Fincastle was young and the “jumping off” place for most early Americans passing through heading both south and west for a brighter future in the years to come.
It is requested that artists, crafters, and others wishing to participate submit applications to HFI at P.O. Box 19, Fincastle, 24090. Applications may be found online at hisfin.org.
