The 8th Covered Bridge Festival will be held in Woolwine, VA on Saturday, June 16th from 10:00am-4:00pm. Admission is free. Music, Crafters and Food Vendors.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Virginia's Covered Bridges Festival Plans have been finalized for the 8th Annual Virginia's Covered Bridges Festival. The event will be held on Saturday, June 16th in Woolwine,VA from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and offers an enjoyable day. There is no admission fee and free parking is available adjacent to both the Jacks Creek and Bob White Covered Bridges. Live musical performers can be heard throughout the day at both bridges. The variety lineup near Jacks Creek Bridge on the Star Pavilion Stage will include Mary Jo and Charlie Leet with Tommy Morse and Ron Pendleton at 10:30 am; fiddler Montana Young and guitarist Dean Smith at 11:30 am; Mish Mash Trio composed of Jake Harbour, Nick Goad, and Ron Pendleton at 12:30 pm; Blues and Jazz artist Les Moore at 1:30 pm; and C. C. Coates Band at 2:30 pm. Opening ceremonies at the Bob White site will be followed by a selection of gospel, country, Bluegrass, and traditional old time music performed by Vernon Harris and Shelley Roberts at 10:30 am, Ashley Blankenship and Blades of Blue at 11:30 am; Bluegrass and Clover at 12:30 pm; TenBrooks at 1:30 pm; and Lone Ivy String Band at 2:30 pm. For the second year the festival will include a 5-K Run/Walk, hosted by Women Caring for the Community, which will incorporate into its route a bridge-to-bridge course. Race day registration will occur between 7:00 am and 7:50 am near the Smith River Church of the Brethren (Bob White Bridge site) with the competition to commence at 8:00 am. Registration fees are $25.00 per person. For additional information, contact Stephanie Vipperman at 276-694-3945 or stephanievipperman@embarqmail.com The festival will host a Cruise-In or display of antique and other unique vehicles in the hard surfaced parking lot near Bob White Bridge. Participation is free of charge and car owners are encouraged to arrive early. Horse and mule drawn wagon rides are always a highly anticipated focal point of the festival. Rides from each bridge will again be offered at a small fee. Another favorite activity at the festival includes the “duck race” in the river near Jacks Creek Bridge. The race will take place at 3:45 pm, with a first, second and third place prize awarded to winners. Tickets are available for $1.00 each and may be purchased at the festival. Numerous artisan, craft and food vendors will be on site in the field near Jacks Creek Bridge. Vendor spaces are still available; for further information contact 276-930-2670. Children’s activities include inflatable bouncers with a 40 foot obstacle course and attached slide. Bubble blowing and hula-hoop participation will be of particular interest for kids and kids-at-heart. Patrick County is the proud owner of two of the covered bridges still remaining in the state which, along with the local festival, were recognized during the 2007 session of the Virginia General Assembly. Both bridges cross the Smith River and are located just off Route 8 north in the Woolwine area. The public is invited to attend the festival and “experience the simple life” which showcases the covered bridges and surrounding area. The festival is hosted and manned by volunteers from the Woolwine Ruritan Club, Woolwine Volunteer Fire Department, and Smith River Rescue Squad, along with other community supporters. Additional help is needed and all citizens of the area are encouraged to join in and assist in promoting these local treasures. Further information is available by emailing coveredbridgefestival@yahoo.com , on the festival Facebook page at www.facebook.com/virginiacoveredbridgefestival , at the county’s tourism website at www.visitpatrickcounty.org or by calling 276-930-2670.