Published: August 11, 2008 11:54 pm      

Vanceburg ready for new festival

Shades of Yesterday to bring history alive Sept. 6

VANCEBURG — Pages from Lewis County history will come alive September 6 in Vanceburg during the first Shades of Yesterday Lincoln Bicentennial Festival.

“It is really a big community participation event,” said organizer Joni Pugh, citing the Lewis County Community Choir’s performance during the festival’s opening ceremonies as an example. The community choir, she explained, is made up of vocalists from multiple school and church groups who have joined voices to perform a variety of patriotic songs.

The festival begins at noon at the courthouse lawn in downtown Vanceburg, with opening ceremonies scheduled to start at 1 p.m. conducted by master of ceremonies George Morgan Thomas. The opening ceremony will include addresses from Vanceburg Mayor Angela Patton and Lewis County Judge Executive Steve Applegate, as well as re-enactors portraying Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln.

The festivities continue at 2 p.m. with a performance by Saxton’s Cornet Band, specializing in sounds of the Civil War era, at Courthouse Square.

“They are incredible,” Pugh said, noting the group has been included in two major films. “They dress in Civil War era attire and it really is a learning experience.”

Recollections of Lincoln by George Morgan Thomas will be presented at the GMT Visitors Center at 3 p.m. Anita Bowles will offer a period gospel sing at Vanceburg Christian Church starting at 4 p.m., and Margaret Garner of Chautaugua Players will present “Death Before Slavery” at the church at 4:30.

A dinner and beer garden will begin at the Victorian Rose Tearoom at 5 p.m., followed by the Forget-Me-Not Dancers at Veterans Memorial Park.

The festival’s Car Cruise-In is set to start at 6 p.m. in parking lots along Railroad Street between Howe and Market streets, at the same time as the baby contest at the courthouse and a jam session at Veterans Memorial Park with the Schults Creek Bluegrass Band.

Rock band Backdraft will bring the festival to a close with an 8 p.m. concert at the Depot Museum lot.

“It will be just a great day filled with art, music, history, crafts, food and fun,” Pugh said, adding all scheduled activities are offered free of charge.

For more information, visit www.visitlewiscountyky.com.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.