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Duffield Festivities Planned for Labor Day Weekend

From staff reports

Two local events are planned during the three-day Labor Day weekend featuring lots of entertainment and fellowship for the family to enjoy.

Duffield Daze

One of Virginia's smallest towns becomes the place to be in Southwest Virginia annually during the first weekend of September.

Organizers are hard at work helping Duffield to gear up for its 25th Annual Duffield Daze celebration set for Sept. 1-3. Some of the scheduled activities include a Friday night concert and street dance, Saturday tractor and car show, tractor rodeo, and of course, the largest regional parade.

Committee member and Duffield Daze spokesperson Kenny Fannon said the fun begins with a special concert on Friday in the parking lot of Food Country. Visitors are invited to join the concert and street dance featuring Dave O'Roark and the Dixie Rebels from Erwin, Tenn.

The smell of a delicious home-cooked traditional country breakfast begins Saturday's activities. The good cooks from Thomas Village Baptist Church begin serving early and continue until just before the parade line-up. This is a fund-raising event that benefits the church.

Once you've eaten your fill of breakfast, head over to the event field for a host of activities to enjoy throughout the rest of the day.

The annual chain saw competition will bring loggers from at least three states to the event. Prizes will be awarded to participants who compete in the contest but only after they first take a safety class.

This event is sponsored by Gilbert NS, Indian Hardwoods, Wagner Forest Products, Columbia Forest Products, Georgia Pacific, Mountain Forest Products and Weyerhaeuser. There'll be an arts and crafts show, car show, and goat show.

Line-up for the parade begins around 9 a.m. with the parade marching through the industrial park beginning at 10:30 a.m. Longtime Duffield school employee June Fannon is the 2006 grand marshal.

Fannon explained that more crafter vendors are expected for the 2006 version which opens to the public at 8 a.m. Local civic groups and churches will be selling food during the two-day event to raise funds for their organizations.

Classic cars have been a part of the Daze parade since its beginning. This year car owners are urged to stick around afterwards to enter the car show. For more information call Frankie Phillips at (276) 523-2621.

The popular tractor attractions: the Slow Tractor Race, the Tractor Show and Rodeo, the Kiddy Tractor Pull and the Antique Tractor Pull as well as a Kiddy Lawn Mower Race are activities scheduled for Saturday afternoon.

Music under the Big Tent begins after the conclusion of the parade. Featured performers are Jim Gates and the Key Keepers and Don Bowen (AKA Elvis) and his group.

Activities continue on Sunday with arts and crafts along with food vendors opening at noon. The old time gospel singing featuring the talents of the Gateway Singers, the Lee Smith Singers and New Vision take the stage from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.

The action continues through Sunday evening with a slight change in location as the event moves to Natural Tunnel State Park where the Cove Ridge Foundation and Advisory Board present the ÔPapa' Joe Smiddy Mountain Music Festival.

Performing at this year's festival will be Dr. Joe Smiddy and Reedy Creek, Appalachian Dream Spinners, Dave Macon Cover Band and Fescue. Tickets are $15 for reserved seats on the covered benches, $10 advance general admission and $12 general admission at the gate. Children 12 and under get in free under general admission with a paying adult. Call 940-2674 for information on tickets.

Sharing the Blessing

An annual event that shows the compassion and caring of neighbors is set for Labor Day in Pattonsville

Sharing the Blessing is exactly as it names says - members of the community join together to celebrate the blessings of life by providing activities for children, free food and music.

Set for Monday, Sept. 4, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Route 604, the community is invited to share in the bounty. The day's activities begin after the portrayal of the crucifixion in the outdoor drama, "The Path of Decision."

Activities for the children include a dunking tank, horseshoes, volleyball, basketball, face painting and a horse-drawn wagon. A special tent filled with games and activities suitable for small children is also planned.

Performances on the main stage begin at 10 a.m. featuring the Ferrymen, the Gospel Volunteers are 11 a.m., the Holbrook Family at noon and Garry Hood, GraceLand and others at 3 p.m.

"Su" the dog is performing in the first-ever Sharing the Blessing dog show. The Red Hill Puppeteers will also be on stage at 2 p.m.

The menu, which will be served throughout the day, includes barbecue, baked beans, hot dogs, nachos and cheese, potato chips, desserts, soup beans, cornbread, cole slaw, drinks, snow cones and cotton candy.

For more information or get your church involved, call 431-2106 or 225-3993.

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