The 43rd year Brings New Features for All Ages
The 43rd Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife is coming up Saturday, October 1 & Sunday, October 2 from 10 AM to 5 PM each day at Newport News Park. The festival, which attracts 70,000 visitors each year, features over 200 exhibitors showcasing traditional crafts, heritage trade demonstrations, entertainment, children’s activities, and food.
Visitors will find a variety of new exhibits this year. Check out the Create It Yourself (CIY) Area, where adults (and older children with adult supervision) can learn craft skills including candle making and fiber crafts, and visit the free Cake Walk to try and win a fall decorated cake. Children can “make and take” free crafts in the Children’s Area. At the Pumpkin Patch, children can purchase, decorate, weigh, name, and receive an “adoption certificate” for their pumpkin. Giant Straw Mountains near the Lake Stage provide a place for kids to climb and make for a great photo op site. The Straw/Quilt Maze will a-maze guests with special surprises inside. New entertainers for 2016 are the Chisman Creek Band (Contemporary Bluegrass), Scuppernongaree (Original Folk/Rock), Bill Jenkins and the Virginia Mountain Boys (Mountain/Bluegrass) and Gratiot Lake Road (Modern Folk) and the Cigar Box String Band (Folk/Americana).
Highly-skilled craftspeople are competing for $3,100 in cash prizes and craft/traditional tradespeople are showcasing their skills with awards given for Best Demonstration and Best Display. A variety of handmade crafts that are great for holiday gifts and country-inspired merchandise including farm products will be for sale from crafters in the designated marketplace.
Enjoy some favorite festival foods like seafood, barbeque, pork rinds, and more sold in over 25 booths. Guest can purchase Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife brand t-shirts, festival umbrellas, festival hats, festival tote bags, and festival coffee mugs at the Newport News Parks, Recreation & Tourism booth.
Admission is free; parking fee $10.00 per vehicle on-site and at satellite areas (Greenwood Elementary School/Woodside High School/New Horizons). Free shuttle bus service will run continuously between the satellite parking areas and the festival. No pets permitted in the festival area. Newport News Park is located at the intersection of Ft. Eustis Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue (Exit 250B from I-64).
Traffic, weather, and other event updates will be posted on Twitter @nnfestivals and
Facebook. For more information visit the
Fall Festival website or call 757-926-1400.