The Alleghany County Bicentennial Celebration held at Mountain Gateway Community College (MGCC) in Clifton Forge drew a large crowd on Saturday, September 17th.
Four bands entertained those who gathered to see the car show which had over 30 entries, sample food and drink, buy souvenirs and enjoy the music on the warm and sunny day.
The Alleghany Highlands Blues Society Band led by Johnny King, lead guitarist and vocalist and newest member of The Virginia Opry, opened the show at 3 p.m.
Caleb Carpenter, a local songwriter, vocalist and musician, followed with his band, and Caleb Bailey & Paine’s Run, a bluegrass band from the Shenandoah Valley, played late into the night.
The music continued with EagleMania whose members are from New York and New Jersey. The Eagles’ tribute band played until it was time for the fireworks that culminated the celebration’s activities.
Those who served on the Alleghany County Bicentennial Celebration Committee are Glen Haven Farm Owner Michele Rucker, Chad Williams, Suzanne Adcock-Nicely, Beverly Bowers, Ricky Bourne, Teresa Hammond, Paul Linkenhoker, Shelly Mongold and Pam Warren.
In addition to the food tents, food trailers, souvenir tables and craft tents located next to the Moomaw Center, a special portable play area for children was set up near Piney Point.
Fincastle Baptist Church sponsored and supervised the children’s play area which featured four inflatable rides for children and a pretend rock tower to climb.
The kids were scrambling for the Radical Run, an inflated obstacle course; sliding down Adrenaline Rush Extreme, a two-way slide; and bounce in two unnamed bounce houses.
Next to the bounce houses, others took turns climbing the rock tower equipped with safety harnesses attached to pulley ropes to prevent injury. Alleghany County Sheriff Kevin Hall attended the celebration and his deputies directed traffic with the help of first responders and volunteers.
By the time the Eagle tribute band took the stage, vehicles nearly filled the grass field in front of the MGCC in addition to the usual parking lots.
The Alleghany County Bicentennial Celebration was hosted by MGCC and sponsored by The Alleghany Highlands Chamber of Commerce & Tourism and Alleghany County.
The Eagles Tribute Band performed as the headline act at the Alleghany County Bicentennial Celebration held at Mountain Gateway Community College on Saturday, September 17th. (Photo by M. Ray Allen)
