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25th Annual Duffield Daze Returns Labor Day Weekend

From staff reports

For the past 25 years, folks have gone to one of Virginia’s smallest towns to enjoy of the largest festivals held in Southwest Virginia.

This year’s version of Duffield Daze is on tap for Sept. 1-3 in Duffield with a bigger parade and more events for the family to share.

Local organizer Kenny Fannon and other community volunteers have worked to bring a unique community experience where thousands can listen to bluegrass music, eat a funnel cake or just visit with their neighbors.

The 25th annual Duffield Daze begins with a special Friday night concert and street dance on Sept. 1 and concludes with the Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival at nearby Natural Tunnel State Park on Sept. 3. In between there are games, activities, loads of food and fun for all to enjoy during the three-day festival.

Events are slated for Saturday, Sept. 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, Sept. 3, from noon to 5 p.m. on the festival grounds located adjacent to the Pioneer Center.

Line-up for the annual parade, the largest parade in the region, begins at 9 a.m. Any entries wanting to appear in the parade are asked to call 431-2428. The parade officially begins at 10:30 a.m. with entries lined up along the streets of the industrial park.

T-shirts with this year’s logo imprinted are available for sale at various local businesses in the Duffield area. Show your community pride by purchasing yours today.

Other activities planned during the festival include antique exhibits, arts and crafts, games and rides for the children, music under the big tent on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1 p.m.

The chainsaw competition emphasizes safety in cutting timber, and participants are graduates of the Southern Appalachian Logger Training Program. The event runs from 8 a.m. to noon on Sept. 2.

The competition on various precision cuts, such as bucking, will be followed by a tree-felling competition with 10 trees being cut. Prizes will be awarded, including cash and related logging merchandise.

Other events beginning at 1 p.m. and continuing through the afternoon include the car show, goat show, the Slow Tractor Race, Tractor Show and Rodeo, Kiddy Tractor Pull and Kiddy Lawn Mower Pull.

The always popular antique tractor pull is slated for 5 p.m. on the festival grounds.

Vendors open their booths on Sunday afternoon, beginning at noon through 4 p.m.

An old time gospel singing is planned from 2 to 5 p.m. under the big tent.

The Fifth Annual Papa Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival is one of Scott County’s signature events. Held at the amphitheater at Natural Tunnel State Park, the concert is being held in honor of ‘Papa’ Joe Smiddy, a regional mountain music champion.

The concert which features local performers begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for reserved seating under the covered shed available for $15. Other tickets are $10 advance and $12 at the gate. Credit card orders are accepted for tickets

The music festival is sponsored by the Cove Ridge Foundation and Advisory Board.

For more information or to order tickets, call 940-2674.

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