New and old at the Festival of Leaves

By WAYNE QUESENBERRY/Staff

A Pumpkin Cookin’ Competition, Checkers Challenge, child safety programs and Extension office demonstrations will debut at this year’s Bland County Festival of Leaves. These new events will be included in the two-day festival set for Saturday, Oct. 11, and Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Bland Fairgrounds.
The Child Safety and Protection Program will be family oriented with various free activities emphasizing a safe environment for children. It will be sponsored by New York Life Insurance Co. in cooperation with the Bland County Sheriff’s Office and the Bland County Volunteer Rescue Squad.
“New York Life saw the festival was popular,” noted local agent Tim Havens. “Part of our mission is to be a company that reaches out and becomes a part of the community.”
The Rocky Gap resident used last year’s Festival of Leaves as a backdrop for the grand opening of his business. He was joined by company representatives from the Roanoke general office who witnessed the popularity of the festival.
The company chose this year’s Festival of Leaves for one of its 50 nationwide child safety programs. It will provide fingerprinting and photo identification of children.
There also will be child safety seat checks, free popcorn and drinks, and face painting. Various other demonstrations will be included.
“As a parent of younger children, I’m happy to have the program,” Havens stated. “We need to raise the awareness of what can happen to children and how to prevent it.”
The Child Safety and Protection Program activities will be held on Fairground Street on the south side of the Bland County Courthouse. The street will be blocked off to allow only foot traffic during the events.
Dr. Olena Lambert, Bland County’s newest dentist, will have a booth promoting the importance of good oral health. Her booth and other child-related booths and activities will be held at the same location.
The Bland County Firemen’s Association will again provide a bucket brigade for the children as part of fire prevention awareness month activities. Teams will move buckets of water from the beginning to the end of the line of children trying not to spill the water while moving as fast as possible.
Another addition to this year’s festival is a series of demonstrations by the Bland County staff of the Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension Service. Subjects will include safe canning methods for wild game, basics of soil samples, ideas and tips for cooking and preserving pumpkin, fall and winter preparation of home lawns, and ways to recycle everyday items into low cost gifts.
Extension agents Jim Atwell and Melissa Chase will present the short demonstrations on Saturday. They will be located under the Virginia Tech tent beside the 4-H Clover Café, previously known as the American Legion Building
Extension Agent Elizabeth Johnson will be busy in the Clover Café helping senior 4-H members with their food sale.
The Pumpkin Cookin’ Competition will allow festival-goers to bring their favorite pumpkin edible and recipe for judging on Saturday, Oct. 11. Entries will include such pumpkin dishes as breads, candy, jellies, cakes and more.
The Checkers Challenge will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday in the middle of the fenced area of the fairgrounds. Winners will be announced at noon and trophies awarded.
A variety of musical entertainment will be featured both days of the festival. Scheduled to perform are the Appalachian Hoedowners, Light of Hope Men’s Choir, Midnight Ramblers, the Hollybrook Band, Gospel singer Craig Whitaker, folk singer Will Jones, Fescue and the Captives.
“The Festival of Leaves has become a county homecoming,” said Betty K. Munsey, a festival committee member. “We have former residents who live all over who attend each year. It’s designed to let people meet friends, new and old.”
Wayne Quesenberry can be reached at 1-800-655-1406 or .