Celebrate history in Woolwine on Saturday, June 15 when the 15th annual Virginia Covered Bridge Festival gets underway.
The Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge in Woolwine, and the former site of the Bob White Covered Bridge off of Elamsville Road, will share center stage during the festival that runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
History records that date back to 1914 indicate that the Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge is a 42-foot bridge designed by Walter Weaver of Woolwine and later built by Charles Vaughn of Buffalo Ridge. It holds a place in history as Patrick County’s last remaining historic covered bridge.
The Bob White Covered Bridge was constructed in 1921 and according to historical records; it was 80 foot in length and was washed away during a torrential flood on September 29, 2015. The bridge was used until the 1960s.
Restoration of the Jack’s Creek Covered Bridge took place about nine years ago using grant funds from the Federal Highway Administration’s national historic bridge program and the state’s Department of Historic Resources. Reports show that grant funds were matched by Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and the Community Revitalization Commission.
In 2007, Patrick County was recognized and endorsed by the state for having the only official Virginia Covered Bridge Festival.
Festival goers will experience a variety of live musical performances at both locations. Performances at the Jacks Creek site will begin at 11 a.m. with the Borrowed Earth Band, at noon acoustic renditions of American songwriters and well-loved songs from bluegrass, country and blues music will be performed by the F.A.R.M. T.E.A.M., Lew Woodall, a jazz guitar master, will take the stage at 1 p.m. and at 2 p.m. Mac Traynham along with Mac’s Youth Band will provide a program of music.
The Bob White venue will commence performing various gospel selections by Shelley Roberts at 10:30 a.m., after the formal opening ceremony. At 11:30 a.m., Jason Harris and Friends will entertain the crowd along with several other talented and recognized instrumentalists. The Comptons will take the stage at 12:30 p.m., performing a bluegrass/gospel show. Rock Castle Ramblers will take the stage at 1:30 p.m. providing traditional Appalachian style music.
The annual Covered Bridge 5K run/walk will be held Saturday morning.
Several activities will be available for event goers of all ages, including horse and mule drawn wagon rides, craft and food vendors and historical presentations. A duck race will be held in the river near Jacks Creek Bridge. The race will take place at 2:30 p.m. with a first, second and third place prize to be awarded to the winners.
Vendor spaces are available at no charge; for more information or to rent a space call (276) 930-2670, visit the Virginia Covered Bridge Festival Facebook Page, or www.visitpatrickcounty.org.
