Nokesville Day slated for Saturday

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

Published: May 15, 2008

Quiet, rural Nokesville will come alive Saturday, as thousands of people are expected to turn out for the 35th annual Nokesville Day festivities.

The day is sponsored by the Nokesville Ruritan Club— chartered in 1941—as a fundraiser for its community service activities and as a way to give the community a day of fun.

Events will include street vendors, entertainment, children's activities, food and a "hometown" parade that is open to anyone who wants to join in.

The day's activities begin with a breakfast from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. sponsored by the Nokesville VFD at the firehouse.

The main street through the town—Fitzwater Drive—will be filled with about 60 crafters, community information groups, plant sellers, candy and baked goods, and food booths, including the Ruritans, who will be offering hot dogs, hamburgers and other items. Vendors will be out from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., lining the street from the Nokesville Library to Nokesville Elementary School.

Children's activities will take place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the elementary school, including a rat race obstacle course.

Music and entertainment will be provided by Brush Arbor Gospel Bluegrass, Brentsville District High School Jazz Band, and the Lucky Stars Cloggers.

Honored personalities that will be part of the parade include Citizen of the Year Jeanne Adams; Grand Marshal T. Clay Wood; and two Teachers of the Year, Pat Jacobs at Nokesville Elementary and Mary Pat McCartney at Bristow Run.

Participants who want to enter the

parade should meet at Brentsville District High School by 10:30 a.m.. Entries will include antique farm tractors, antique cars, marching units, fire and rescue vehicles, library cartwheelers and bands.

A KYDA Pro Wrestling demonstration will take place at 1 p.m.

"Because of the sagging economy and the high cost of gasoline, this could be an important year for the Ruritans and the people we help," said Gail Williams, club chairman. "We have received good support from businesses who have placed ads in the program book and for the number of vendors we will have. We look forward to a good turnout for the food sales."

She said some of the examples of the work of the club include giving scholarships to Brentsville District High School students, providing help for needy students and local residents and supporting Brentsville school student trips.

"We also provide hands-on service such as sponsoring a pancake dinner for the band, buying and cooking the food; manned the grill at the school's homecoming game; and adopted a highway stretch on Aden Road," said Williams

She added that all the events at Nokesville Day are free to the community with the club raising money through the sales of program book ads, vendor space and their food booth. She expects up to 3,000 people to come out for the event. Many residents along the parade route set up chairs in their front lawns to watch the parade.

The Nokesville Church of the Brethren is having a sit-down ham dinner at noon.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.