Clinch River Days To Be Held In St. Paul

By: Joe Tennis | TriCities.com
Published: May 28, 2009

With Memorial Day arriving so early this year, other activities have also moved up on the calendar.
Like the annual Clinch River Days at St. Paul, Va.
Usually held the first weekend of June, this longtime annual party has now moved to this coming weekend – the last few days of May.
It all kicks off on May 28 with a reception for photographers Amy Burke, Peyton Gregory and Patsy Phillips at the Railroad Museum, from 6-8 p.m.
Show up to sample refreshments. And stick around to hear the Heart of Southwest Virginia Community Orchestra performing on the lawn, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Then, look for the main festival on May 29-30 – that’s Friday and Saturday – at the town’s A.R. Matthews Memorial Park on the Clinch River.
A gorgeous setting, with lots of shade trees and a long stretch of free-flowing river, the park along the Wise-Russell county border is slated to be filled with craft and food vendors, plus games, amusements and magic tricks, performed by Michael McNulty.
Listen up: You can hear the rock and folk music of Charlie Engle and the Big Red Rug playing for an hour, starting at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.
But, wait – that’s just one act.
Come Friday night, and you’ll see the Sugar Cane Cloggers playing at 6 p.m. and hear Old, Fat & Sloe, playing at 6:30 p.m.; Retroville performing at 8 p.m.; and Benny Mays providing music at 11 p.m.
Get in town a little earlier, and you can catch the “Southwestminster Dog Show” starting at 6 p.m. Friday on the Little League Field.
That same night, a dance contest for couples begins at 8 p.m. on the park’s dance floor. And though entrants must register before 7:30 p.m., there is no entry fee, and trophies will be awarded for first and second place.
Then, on Saturday, the line up includes deejay Benny Mays at 10:30 a.m., plus more performances by Dana “Clown” Collins, Center Stage Cloggers, King’s Messengers, Kelly Nelson Band, the Mayberry Deputy, Bluegrass Circle, Ron Neal and the Deaftones.
Finally, it all wraps up with The Collegians, performing at 8 p.m. and Benny Mays playing music, again, at 11 p.m.
The First Virginia Calvary, Company D, Washington Rifles & Camp No. 840, Sons of Confederate Veterans, are set to host a flag raising and opening ceremony on the little league field on Saturday at 10 a.m. Then, they’ll show their skills in skirmishes and recreating the past with a living history encampment running through 6 p.m.
In downtown, on 4th Avenue, the Clinch River Cruisers are hosting a free classic car show, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday.
All the while, Team Estonoa is presenting its award-winning presentation, project portfolios and display of learning center materials of “Lake Estonoa,” a wetlands in town.
Want to know more? Call (276) 762-2303 or visit www.clinchriverfestival.com.

Clinch River Days To Be Held In St. Paul

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