47th Annual Virginia Lake Festival

The 47th annual event has added some NEW features and events. Starting with adding Vendors on Friday afternoon this year. So if you can’t make it on Saturday, join us on Friday evening with overC 90 vendors, live music, and fun.

Program 24

HERE IS THE LINEUP:

It all starts Friday Afternoon, The streets will close from 2nd to 5th starting at Noon to allow over 90 vendors to set up along with our featured Ferris Wheel Ride in front of McDonald’s. Starting at 4 pm come down a view the array of vendors, shop our stores, and dine at our restaurants. Ride the bucking bull, slide the enormous Fire truck slide, or climb the rock wall and of course, don’t forget the Ferris Wheel. Tickets are sold at the Ticket booth at the corner of 4th and Virginia Avenue near the sand sculpture. Our new ticket booth was made by the shop class at Mecklenburg County Public School’s Carpentry 111 class under the direction of Wayne Talley.

OPENING NIGHT CEREMONIES JULY 19th

Join us as we honor our 2024 Virginia Lake Festival Sponsors at 7 pm. Located this year at 416 Virginia Avenue/Lake Life Live Park. We so appreciate our Sponsors, Lakefest would not be possible without them. We will have a gated area where you can get a cold beverage from Woodbine Vineyards, Buggs Island Brewery & Sandy River Distillery. Live Music by Jusin Cody Fox band and a Balloon Basket candle lighting ceremony at dusk.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE MUSIC

• 7:30 pm-Live on Stage–Justin Cody Fox Band!

We are thrilled to have these guys back this year. If you missed Justin Cody Fox’s band last year on Sunday, you missed it, they were awesome. His parents reside right here in Buffalo Junction! So get ready for some Blues & Rock n Roll

JCF is a Blues/Rock powerhouse with a double-threat vocal and guitar prowess that’s been forged in fire since his early jump into the music industry at just 15 years old. Justin began honing his skills at a young age on late-night family jams and developed an early appreciation for songwriting exploring his parent’s record collection. By the time Justin had formed his first band, he was already gaining regional attention as one of the premiere performers on the NC coast. Some of Justin’s early influences included guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimi Hendrix, as well as Rock bands The Black Crowes, Humble Pie, The Faces, and Tom Petty. Over the years Justin has written and recorded six albums and toured up and down the East Coast, and Southern US.

HOT AIR BALLOON SHOWS

Saturday & Sunday AM & Saturday PM. For the safety of all pilots, flights only occur in select weather conditions. Should there be storms in a 60-mile radius, or winds locally greater than 10 mph–flights will be canceled. Pilots will meet at the Clarksville Community Center on Woodland Drive across from the Food Lion lot around 6:30 to see the location of the wind to determine where they will be lifting off.

JURIED ARTS & CRAFTS SHOW SATURDAY

We are hosting over 190 vendors ranging from Crafts, Food, Non-profits & Retail items. Vendors this year are coming not only from Virginia, but also from other states: Florida, Ohio, North and South Carolina, Alabama, Maryland, & Georgia. We have lots of new & exciting booths this year, from amazing woodworking, acrylic and oil paintings, pottery, jewelry, items to be personalized on the spot, clothing, home accessories, and even homemade pet food & attire… just to name a few. VIRGINIA AVENUE from 9th through 2nd and Business Bridge will be CLOSED ALL DAY from 4 am to 11 pm.

FOOD & BEVERAGES

We have a full plate of food offering this year from Thai, Mediterranean, Greek, African, BBQ & Cousins Maine Lobster! For the sweet tooth, Homemade ice cream anyone? check out the Amish booth or Royal Creamery…also it would not be a festival without funnel cakes, deep-fried candy bars, & Oreos to ice, and smoothies, Lemonade is great for a hot day! There will be lots of food to tempt you but nothing like the Smell and aroma of kettle corn, popcorn, cotton candy & more! All here on Saturday.

RIDES, GAMES & SPECIAL GUEST

For the last seven years, Paul Jackson, Helicopter Pilot, has been flying the friendly skies and giving our Lakefest visitors rides over Clarksville and the Lake. Take advantage of seeing Lake Country from the air this year, it is a memory you will never forget. Rides will be available starting Friday evening, at the Food Lion lawn area & Saturday for most of the day. It is $50 per person to ride.

Friday, 4 pm to 9 pm & Saturday hours vary … there will be a super Fire truck slide(proceeds will go to Clarksville Voluntary Fire Dept), rock wall, Bucking Bull, and Ferris Wheel. Tickets for these will be available at the ticket booth located next to the sand sculpture at the corner of 4th & Virginia Ave. 

We will still have our free trackless train offering rides on Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm. Pick-up and Drop-off locations are next to Hite’s and Ayala’.

Special Guests From Ferngully Characters of Raleigh, we will have Characters will be here for a short time from 10 am -1 pm. Bluey, Barbie & Spiderman

LAKEFEST CLASSIC CAR SHOW

In 2019, The Lakefest Antique Auto Show celebrated 25 years, now called Lakefest Classic Car Show will be held in the parking lot of TouchstoneBank 701 Virginia Avenue… Each vehicle will receive a dash plaque for its entry.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE MUSIC

The Earls of Kent

The Earls of Kent is a premier cover band from the Washington D.C. Metro area consisting of six accomplished musicians skillfully performing a variety of popular Southern and Classic Rock. Paying tribute to the artists they cover, EoK takes pride in the fact that fans view the band as authentic to the musicianship, vocals, sound, and live stage performance of the original artists they cover such as The Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. EoK is a very entertaining, lively, and high-energy band passionate about the music they play. We are excited to have them perform at this year’s Lakefest for a fun and memorable show.

One of the band members is the brother of our very own Steve Gaetani from Bridgewater Bar & Grill

9:15 pm Gathering of the Boats & Fireworks over the lake.

SUNDAY

Early morning hot air balloon show.

Host or Publisher Clarksville Lake Country Chamber