The 42nd Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife will feature over 200 exhibitors showcasing traditional crafts, heritage trade demonstrations, entertainment, children’s activities, and food. New for 2015 in the Heritage Area is a Straw/Quilt Maze with special surprises, a free Cake Walk where winners will receive a fall decorated cake, and a Pumpkin Moon Bounce (free for kids). Giant Straw Mountains near the Lake Stage will provide a place for kids to climb and will also be a great “photo op” site. In the Marketplace Crafts Area the new CIY (Create it Yourself) Area, adults (and older children with adult supervision) can learn craft skills including candle making and fiber crafts. New entertainers for 2015 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).
In the Juried Craft Area, highly-skilled craftspeople compete for $3,100 in cash prizes. The Heritage Area has craft/traditional tradespeople showcasing their skills with awards given for Best Demonstration and Best Display.
The Marketplace Crafts Area crafters sell a wide variety of handmade crafts that are great for holiday gifts, collecting, or home decorating. The Country Store Area vendors sell country-inspired merchandise including farm products.
Seafood, barbeque, pork rinds, and other favorite festival foods will be sold in over twenty booths in the Food Area.
Children can “make and take” free crafts in the Children’s Area. In the Pumpkin Patch ($), children can purchase, decorate, weigh, name, and receive an “adoption certificate” for their pumpkin.