Spend Thanksgiving weekend 2013 in historic Staunton, Virginia

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsF2CsT5ZntjeVfI2GyaJpw0EZvaTAmh2Y9sMWnAUNcov_ku8vrjc0LSev3sQ2d38NL3C6UQeNCg8Ilij19J_mJBeSHZkR90Twi-sgm3wNKvQcXk_Eef-z_Hr_vZV97wbQlP_Xz6uCEas/s1600/Thanksgiving+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsF2CsT5ZntjeVfI2GyaJpw0EZvaTAmh2Y9sMWnAUNcov_ku8vrjc0LSev3sQ2d38NL3C6UQeNCg8Ilij19J_mJBeSHZkR90Twi-sgm3wNKvQcXk_Eef-z_Hr_vZV97wbQlP_Xz6uCEas/s400/Thanksgiving+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />There are few places as quaint and picturesque as the city of Staunton in the central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains, this community-oriented small town celebrates holidays in style, and Thanksgiving is no exception. For a fun and exciting adventure, spend the long weekend enjoying all the area has to offer. The calendar of events is packed with activities to celebrate Thanksgiving and welcome the holiday season.<br /><br /><b>Wednesday, November 27:</b><br />- Playhouse Tour, 2:00 pm, Blackfriars Playhouse<br />- Trivia, 7:00 pm, Zabbs Beach Day Cafe<br />- "She Stoops to Conquer," 7:30 pm, Blackfriars Playhouse<br />- Live jazz, 7:30 pm, Mill Street Grill<br />- The Level, 8:00 pm, Clocktower Restaurant<br />- Brent Hull & Joe Tyree, 9:00 pm, Byers Street Bistro <br /><br /><b>Thanksgiving - Thursday, November 28:</b><br />Enjoy your Thanksgiving meal at one of the local restaurants that will be open:<br />- <a href="http://www.kathys-restaurant.com/thanksgiving-buffet/">Kathy's Restaurant</a>, 11:00 am - 3:30 pm, reservations available<br />- <a href="http://www.stonewalljacksonhotel.com/media/docs/ChristmasCalendar2013.pdf">Stonewall Jackson Hotel & Conference Center</a>, 11:00 am - 2:30 pm<br />- Rowe's Restaurant<br />- <a href="http://www.crackerbarrel.com/restaurant/thanksgiving#OpenForThanksgiving">Cracker Barrel</a>, 6:00 am - 10:00 pm<br /><br /><b>Friday, November 29:</b><br /><b>Black Friday"</b> offers the opportunity to check out the local stores and shops of downtown Staunton and the surrounding vicinity. From unique gift items, jewelry, clothing, handmade chocolates, and domestic goods in Staunton to the shopping availabilities of Waynesboro's Target, Books-a-Million, and Kohl's, there's plenty to keep everyone happy. Check out local restaurants for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as unique coffee shops throughout town.<br /><br /><b><a href="http://www.gvbookfair.com/">Green Valley Book Fair</a></b> will open Friday, November 29, for its last two-week run of 2013. Open daily, this Mt. Crawford book retailer is known far and wide for its deeply discounted deals on books, audio tapes, and more. It's a great spot to pick up gifts for everyone from children to grandparents. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.frontiermuseum.org/"><b>The Frontier Culture Museum's gift shop</b></a> offers imported items from Ireland, Scotland, and Great Britain as well as America -- nutcrackers, Christmas ornaments, glassware, historical and cook books, and other just-right gift items for that special person. Don't forget the Museum's famous fudge that comes in a variety of flavors and is always a favorite with visitors.<br /><br />Staunton's world-known <b><a href="http://www.americanshakespearecenter.com/">American Shakespeare Theater</a></b> kicks off the holiday season on  Friday, November 29, with a variety of offerings<i></i> in the authentically recreated Blackfriars Playhouse as well as tours of the theater. The playhouse can be found on Market Street beside the Stonewall Jackson Hotel.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.oxeyevineyards.com/our-tasting-room/"><b>Ox-Eye Vineyard's tasting room</b></a> is located in a renovated 1910 building in the historic Wharf District of downtown Staunton which offers an inviting location to taste this local wines crafted by Susan and John Kiers.<br /><br />The <b><a href="http://www.stauntondowntown.org/">Staunton Christmas Parade</a> </b>will add a magical touch on Monday, December 2 (always the first Monday after Thanksgiving). The route will begin at Frederick and Augusta Streets, turn down Market Street, and then turn right onto Beverley Street. Thousands of tiny white twinkly lights, Christmas decorations, and inviting window displays will entice visitors to step into shops and dine in restaurants before and after the parade. Bundle up for a fun evening in the brisk December air, followed up with a steaming cup of hot chocolate. Meeting friends downtown is a must for this annual tradition.<br /><br />Be sure to check the <a href="http://www.visitstaunton.com/stauntonontap.htm">Visit Staunton</a> website for more activities as well as lodging and dining opportunities. Come to the Shenandoah Valley for Thanksgiving and stick around to kick off your holiday season.

Appalachian Mountains Blue Ridge Mountains Central Shenandoah Valley Christmas Historic Downtown Staunton Lynn R. Mitchell Thanksgiving western Virginia Spend Thanksgiving weekend 2013 in historic Staunton, Virginia

There are few places as quaint and picturesque as the city of Staunton in the central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Surrounded by the Blue Ridge and Appalachian mountains, this community-oriented small town celebrates holidays in style, and Thanksgi…

Read more »

Lockn' Music Festival ... Woodstock in the Blue Ridge?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqDU-RJi-ZrWNW4t1zQohxj6fJHgP3mkAGgNhB9C7ygQ1GnHm5BpKmp2lk9y-bqiIQcpwKRhzp9O0BES1csx6G1smGKHVqySqx3UM7CCtSSP745xIKSlZRHlqlZ394TpZCq2Gkbwy213v/s1600/Lockn'+Festival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKqDU-RJi-ZrWNW4t1zQohxj6fJHgP3mkAGgNhB9C7ygQ1GnHm5BpKmp2lk9y-bqiIQcpwKRhzp9O0BES1csx6G1smGKHVqySqx3UM7CCtSSP745xIKSlZRHlqlZ394TpZCq2Gkbwy213v/s400/Lockn'+Festival.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Lockn' Festival photo</i></div><br />The hills will echo this week with music, dancing, camping, and joyous celebrations as the huge <a href="http://www.locknfestival.com/">Lockn' Music Festival</a> takes place Thursday through Sunday in Nelson County, Virginia. Last-minute preparations are underway as organizers brace for thousands who have already bought tickets for this event that could turn into a Woodstock in the Blue Ridge Mountains for a whole new generation.<br /><br />But don't take my word for it. Read what was in Ohio's <a href="http://www.toledocitypaper.com/August-Issue-2-2013/Lockn-Festival/">Toledo City Paper</a>:<br /><blockquote>The innaugural Lockn' festival is a jam-band fan's mecca—the penultimate gathering of the best improvisational bands from every corner of the country. You have <i>Furthur</i> representing the West Coast, <i> String Cheese Incident</i> bringing their Colorado style, <i>Widespread Panic</i> from south of the Mason-Dixie line, and <i>Trey Anastasio</i> traveling from the northern East Coast. <br /><br />In TCP's opinion, this 'interlocking music festival' is shaping up to be the best party of the summer—the musical highlight of an already epic year. <br />...<br />Nestled deep in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lock'n is an 8 hour drive from Toledo, but it is a beautiful drive through one of the most scenic parts of the country. Festival organizers Dave Frey and Pete Shapiro shopped for locations around the U.S.—New York, California, North Carolina—before deciding on Virginia because of its 'intimate setting'. The festival's two stages stand side by side and will have interlocking performances all weekend—as soon as one band stops, the band on the opposite stage will begin. </blockquote>For those of us in the central Shenandoah Valley, this four-day event is in our back yard, and only two hours from Richmond. Taking place from September 5-8, 2013, at the 5,000-acre Oak Ridge Farm, officials are expecting 25,000-30,000 people. Oak Ridge Farm is located off Rt. 29 halfway between Charlottesville and Lynchburg and, with the number of vehicles expected, <a href="http://www.dailyprogress.com/news/local/oak-ridge-being-transformed-for-this-week-s-lockn-music/article_4c40a022-1430-11e3-a11e-0019bb30f31a.html">exhaustive traffic plans</a> have been made to avoid backups on Rt. 29, along with security and safety preparations.<br /><br /><br />The <a href="http://www.locknfestival.com/schedule">full lineup of musicians</a> includes Zac Brown, the Black Crowes, and a number of other groups set to perform under the central Virginia sky.<br /><br />The Lockn' <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153127867970012&set=a.10150248855585012.531700.316349645011&type=1&theater">Facebook page announced a pre-festival music party</a> for Wednesday night, September 4, at the Jefferson Theater in Charlottesville.<br /><br />To keep up with the latest details, follow Lockn' on <a href="https://twitter.com/locknfestival">Twitter</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.locknfestival.com/attractions">Local vendors</a> including food and craft beer will be available on-site. Nelson County is, after all, home of the famous <a href="http://nelson151.com/">Rt. 151 corridor</a> featuring some of the finest and best-known vineyards, craft breweries, and food establishments in Virginia.<br /><br />It will be an experience not forgotten anytime soon, if ever. If anyone takes photos and would like to share, I would love to post them on SWAC Girl. Send to swac.girl@gmail.com. Stay legal, safe, and have fun!

Black Crowes Central Shenandoah Valley central Virginia Charlottesivlle Lockn' Festival Lynchburg music festivals Nelson County Richmond Toledo City Paper Virginia Is For Lovers Lockn' Music Festival ... Woodstock in the Blue Ridge?

 Lockn' Festival photoThe hills will echo this week with music, dancing, camping, and joyous celebrations as the huge Lockn' Music Festival takes place Thursday through Sunday in Nelson County, Virginia. Last-minute preparations are underway as organ…

Read more »

Thursdays in Staunton 2013: Shakin' at the Station Summer Concert Series

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh73KM3PPQTuOIuM8ttY3xGAHhBZV8Kxdx-q3FZ10XCzjSr3I3wuwzMCf3lF2pPPr1nuPCkUwES72-Cc7YS3NbZvzLl4Q8AhIVQtIm8vhcg6GldqB_AW7-mZHVt2jdZ48vb9HNzE9oVC3Q/s1600/23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh73KM3PPQTuOIuM8ttY3xGAHhBZV8Kxdx-q3FZ10XCzjSr3I3wuwzMCf3lF2pPPr1nuPCkUwES72-Cc7YS3NbZvzLl4Q8AhIVQtIm8vhcg6GldqB_AW7-mZHVt2jdZ48vb9HNzE9oVC3Q/s400/23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thursday, June 20, 2013 ... Brian Patrick Band.<br />See the <a href="http://vaeagle.com/Shakin__at_the_Station.html">entire summer lineup here</a>.</div><br />Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell<br />June 18, 2013

Central Shenandoah Valley ENTERTAINMENT Historic Wharf District Staunton tourism Virginia Is For Lovers Thursdays in Staunton 2013: Shakin' at the Station Summer Concert Series

Thursday, June 20, 2013 ... Brian Patrick Band.See the entire summer lineup here.Photo by Lynn R. MitchellJune 18, 2013 …

Read more »