Pastimes

staff reports
Published: July 24, 2008

Friday, July 25
Laurie Lewis

The Bluemont Concert Series will present bluegrass artists Laurie Lewis & the Right Hands on July 25 for the third of six Friday evening concerts in Culpeper. All Friday evening concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. on the Old County Courthouse lawn at West Davis Street in downtown historic Culpeper.

Concertgoers are encouraged to bring a lawn chair or a blanket to sit on, and a picnic to enjoy before the show. Admission is $5 per person, $4 for Bluemont Friends and seniors, and $2 for children under 12.
Proceeds go to support the Artist-in-Education program in Culpeper schools. In bad weather, concerts are held indoors at The Train Depot at 113 Commerce Street.

This summer, Bluemont will present more than 65 concerts in nine communities in northwest and central Virginia including Fredericksburg, Culpeper, Ashland, Colonial Beach, Leesburg, Luray, Middleburg, Warrenton and Winchester.

Saturday, July 26
Oretea Knicely

The Bluemont Concert Series is proud to present Oretea Knicely at 7:30 p.m. for the fifth of ten performances in Fredericksburg. All Saturday evening concerts take place at the Maury School Stadium field, located at the intersection of Hanover St. and Kenmore Avenue in historic Fredericksburg. This concert is made possible by The Inn at Kelly’s Ford.

Mandolinist Danny Knicely will be showcasing the Oretea brothers. Originally from Bolivia, Cesar and Jose studied Flamenco guitar and singing in Spain. Their soulful guitarist and blood harmonies are powerful and moving.  This performance, in English and Spanish, will include Ralph Gordon on bass and music ranging from lively gypsy rumbas to hot numbers and other melodies from Europe, Brazil, Bolivia, and Appalachia.

Concertgoers are encouraged to bring blankets and lawn chairs, and a picnic to enjoy before the show. Admission is $5 per person, $4 for Bluemont Friends and seniors, $2 for kids under 12; proceeds go to support Bluemont’s year-round Artist-in-Education program in area schools. As at all Bluemont concerts, no pets, alcohol or smoking are allowed. In case of bad weather, the concerts will be held at James Monroe High School.  All are welcome to these family oriented events. For more information call (540) 338-4640 or visit bluemont.org.

Sunday, July 27
Historic Occoquan

Visitors will get a chance to check out Historic Occoquan, with live music, history talks and walks, horse-drawn carriage rides, craft demonstrations, sidewalk sales and more. From noon to 7 p.m., members of the community, such as local historian Dolores Elder and members of the Chesapeake Region Lace Guild, will invite guests to take part in creating a glass mosaic table, listen to ghost stories, learn about the art of quilting and participate in general merriment.

Friday, Aug. 1
Overnight Party

Borders and Waldenbooks all over the D.C. area will celebrate the release of “Breaking Dawn,” the fourth and final book in Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling vampire-inspired “Twilight” series, with in-store book release parties beginning at 9:30 p.m. and culminating at midnight when the book officially goes on sale. The party, themed “From Twilight til Dawn: A Night with a Bite,” will include costume contests, trivia contests and lively debates on themes from the book series.

For more information, check out TwilightLexicon.com, the official Stephenie Meyer fan-sponsored Web site, or BordersMedia.com/Meyer.

Friday, Aug. 1 - Sunday, Aug. 3
Civil War Role Play

Approximately 50 Civil War re-enactors will be camping at James Madison’s Montpelier to commemorate the Aug. 1 anniversary of the Confederate return to Orange County following the devastating defeat at Gettysburg. The re-enactors will participate in a number of drills and activities similar to those of the estimated 4,500 Confederate forces housed on the Montpelier grounds during the encampments of 1863-64. The public is invited to witness these activities on Friday, 10 a.m. to 5p.m.; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The “Montpelier Guard,” Confederate winter campsite, and Freedman’s farm will be featured elements of the three-quarter-mile tour. No additional charge above the standard admission fee is charged for the tour. Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy footwear, and should meet in the Montpelier Visitor Center prior to 12:45 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 9
Area Artists

The Artists’ Undertaking Gallery in Historic Occoquan presents “Etched in Time,” an exhibit of etchings by Roger Frey of Woodbridge and etched and fused glass by David Barnes of Sterling. The exhibit runs August 5 - September 1, 2008.  An artist reception will be held on Saturday, August 9, from 4-6 p.m.  The gallery is open 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily, and is located at 309 Mill Street in Historic Occoquan. 
For more information contact the gallery at (703)-494-0584.

Saturday, Aug. 9 - Sunday, Aug. 10
Whiskey Rebellion

The Whiskey Rebellion controversy will come to Historic Mount Vernon for the first time with dramatic performances, a military encampment, militia drilling, music, open-hearth cooking and costumed demonstrations at George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill. When President George Washington ordered up militia forces in 1794 to enforce taxation on whiskey distillers in Pennsylvania, it was one of the first tests of federal authority in U.S. history. The defense of the constitutional powers of the federal government was at stake, and gristmills, which served as community centers in the 18th century, would have been the setting for debate when people took their grain to be ground and exchanged information. Tour the gristmill.

Enjoy tastes of food made from cornmeal, and purchase your own meal ground at the Gristmill. Activities are included in regular admission to George Washington’s Distillery & Gristmill, located three miles from the main Mount Vernon Estate: $4 for adults; $2 youth ages 6-11; free for children ages 5 and younger. For more information, call (703) 780-2000 or visit MountVernon.org.

— Press releases