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Avoca festival set for Saturday
Friday, September 19, 2008 1:16 PM EDT
Students from area elementary schools visit to learn about the Revolutionary War, Civil War and Native Americans. Children come to hunt Easter eggs on the grounds.
Others watch movies on Friday nights in the summer, enjoy Christmas decorations and listen to music. Some even get married.
"We try to have a lot of programs and be open for the community," said Elizabeth Doan, coordinator of education, volunteers and special events at the Avoca Museum in Altavista. "We want to really be a part of the whole community."
Saturday, Sept. 20, Avoca will host its 9th Annual Harvest Jubilee and Wine Festival at the historic landmark on Main Street from noon-6 p.m. Besides the wine tasting, there will be crafts, children's activities, concessions, prize raffles, music and house tours.
Proceeds will support the education and community programs, along with paying basic expenses.
Six wineries - Rebec Vineyards of Amherst, Peaks of Otter Winery of Bedford, Hickory Hill Vineyard of Moneta, Tomahawk Mill Winery of Chatham, Wintergreen Winery of Nelson County and Gabriele Rausse Winery of Charlottesville - will offer samples. Wintergreen is new this year.
Doan said the wineries will offer traditional and non-traditional samples. In addition to the chardonnays and merlots, there will be some spice and sweet fruit wines. Peaks of Otter will have one wine made from hot peppers called "kiss the devil wine."
She said the wineries will have from five to 15 vintages to taste. Those attending will get an Avoca wine glass when they enter the gate. Wineries will also sell by the bottle.
In addition, 16 craft vendors will be on hand with jewelry, purses, blankets, baskets and wood items. Food vendors will offer barbecue, chicken sandwiches, hamburgers, cheese and bread, chips and soft drinks.
A bake sale of homemade goods, including Ida Compton's candies, will be available.
On the music end, the Blue Newt Band and Eli Cook will perform oldies, rock 'n' roll, and rhythm and blues.
Tickets are $15 for tasting ($10 in advance), $10 for non-tasting for ages 12 and up, $5 for ages 3-11 and free for kids under 3. Tickets are available at all First National Bank of Altavista locations, Miller's Jewelry, Sunshine Cleaners and Avoca.
Identification is required for tasting. Those attending are encouraged to bring a chair. Coolers and pets aren't allowed.
Free parking will be at Abbott Nutrition.
Anyone interested in volunteering should call Doan at 434-369-1076. Volunteers get a free ticket.
She said the Altavista High School Hi-Y Club provides a lot of volunteer support with delivering ice, setting up tables and chairs, selling Avoca concessions and helping in the children's area.
The Harvest Jubilee and Wine Festival is sponsored by Abbott Nutrition, Agnes Dowdy and Associates Real Estate, Altavista Arts Council, Altavista Journal, Belfort Furniture, Brown, Edwards & Co. LLP (Russell Hicks, CPA), English's Hardware, Fellers Chevrolet, First National Bank of Altavista, Generation Mortgage, Foster Fuels, Holiday Inn Express, Roark Insurance, Sonny Merryman Inc., Turn One Center, WKDE, Yeatts Transfer, The Comfort Inn and Rage Custom Plastics.
Avoca is a Virginia Historic Landmark and on the National Register of Historic Places.
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