The Fourth of July weekend is packed with events across Rockbridge, and here's a quick rundown of the activities
Freedom Food Festival
The Freedom Food Festival is returning July 3 from 5 to 10 p.m. in downtown Lexington.
Lime Kiln Theater has arranged the music, which will feature Boy Named Banjo, The Wilson Springs, and Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley. There will also be beer and wine sales, kids’ meals and a Fourth of July-style cook-off competition.
Area residents can buy meal tickets online at https://freedomfoodfestival.com. Advance meal tickets cost $20, reserved tables cost $300, and day-of-meal tickets are $25. Alcohol can also be bought to consume in the designated outdoor refreshment area.
The Freedom Food Festival is presented by the Lexington-Rockbridge Chamber of Commerce, Lexington and the Rockbridge Area Tourism and Main StreetLexington. The event is free and will go on rain or shine.
Bike Parade
The annual Children’s Bike Parade will start at 10 a.m. on Friday, July 4.
Children under 10, accompanied by an adult, are invited to The Hub at 314 S. Main St., adjacent to Oak GroveCemetery, starting at 9 a.m. Participants can receive free decorations for their bicycles, including streamers, flags and balloons, and can participate in a tattoo station and face painting.
When the parade starts, Uncle Sam will lead bikes down Main Street to the Washington and Lee University Corral parking lot on Jefferson Street. Free hot dogs, drinks and water will be available courtesy of the Mountain City Mason Lodge No. 67, along with fresh watermelon provided by The Georges.
The event will take place in fair weather or light drizzle, but will cancel in case of heavy rain or lightning. Notifications of cancellations will be provided by 8:30 a.m. on the Main Street Lexington website (www.mainstreetlexington.org ), MSL Facebook (www.facebook.com/mainstreetlexington ) and 3WZ radio. The ride is coordinated by Main Street Lexington and supported by CornerStone Bank and downtown merchants.
Glen Maury Park
Live music and fireworks will be held on July 4 at Glen Maury Park.
The Party Crashers will provide music starting at 6:30 p.m. and fireworks will begin at 9:30 p.m. The concert is $5 per person and free for ages 16 and younger. Concessions will also be available.
Balloons Over Rockbridge
The annual Balloons Over Rockbridge Hot Air Balloon and Music Festival also gets underway on July 4.
Twenty-one balloons from across the country will be brought to the Oak Hill Property at the Virginia Horse Center for balloon rides, tethered balloon rides and balloon glows on Friday and Saturday.
Balloons will be launched at 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. both days, weather permitting. Piloted hot air balloon rides must be pre-registered and are $325 per person.
Admission and parking are free and leashed dogs are welcome to the two-day event. The event is rain or shine, but balloon launches may be cancelled or delayed due to weather conditions.
There will also be food and local merchandise and craft vendors, as well as local bands. On Friday, So Diverse will be on stage at 2:30 p.m. with Southpaw performing at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the Pickup Band will be on at 2:30 p.m. and the Mojo Parker Express at 6 p.m.
The event is volunteer run with a goal of raising money for charities and the community. “We raise money for a few charities each year to give the community a fun weekend,” said Dee Miriello, co-chair of the Balloons Over Rockbridge board.
For a full schedule of the two-day event and photos of the participating balloons, see page B2.
In Raphine
The Raphine Volunteer Fire Company is having a Fourth of July celebration on July 5 at 6 p.m. on the carnival grounds.
City National Bank will give away free ice cream, and food and drinks will be for sale. Fireworks will be put off once it gets dark.
