The Smith River Fest will celebrate its 10th anniversary this year, with new events for outdoor and nature enthusiasts to enjoy.
Presented by Bassett Physical Therapy, the fest will be held on Saturday, August 12 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Smith River Sports Complex, located at 1000 Irisburg Road in Axton.
Updates announced by the Smith River Fest Planning Committee include a Tractor Showcase and a Cooling Station.
The Beer Garden, presented by the Martinsville YMCA, will feature beer selections from local and regional breweries including Martinsville-Henry County’s own Mountain Valley Brewing along with regional favorites 2 Witches Winery & Brewing Co. and Ballad Brewing. It will open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Beth Stinnett, tourism assistant and film office coordinator for the Martinsville Henry County Economic Development Corporation said the announcement is creating a lot of excitement for Smith River Fest. “Craft beer is huge in Virginia and the tourism industry, and the Virginia Tourism Corporation expects that popularity to continue to grow,” Stinnett said. “We are hoping this will attract more out-of-town visitors and entice more locals to the Smith River Fest.”
The Tractor Showcase will be presented by James River Power Equipment of Martinsville. Festival goers have the opportunity to see a variety of tractors, mowers, gators and power equipment on display and talk to experts. Children are welcome to get up close with their favorite tractor and take pictures.
A Cooling Station also is new this year, and provided by The Harvest Foundation. It’s a nice option to jumping in the river (or mud) to beat the heat.
To keep festival goers entertained throughout the day, the SRF will feature DJWHAT! in the morning, with Stone Canyon Band to play live music in the afternoon. DJWHAT! “Kasey Lucas” said “I’m so excited to be a part of this year’s Smith River Fest! I hope everyone is ready to jam.”
More details, including a schedule of events, vendor information and more, are available at www.SmithRiverFest.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SmithRiverFest.
