Category — fall fun

The Smith Mountain Lake 2011 Charity Home Tour, as well as the Fall Festival, will be held October 7-9 this year. You will not want to miss out on touring the 8 unbelievable homes on the tour, plus enjoy the other activities included in the Fall Festival.

The homes that are being open to those taking the tour are indescribably magnificent. Between the interesting architectural aspects of the physical structures themselves and the unique and creative interior designs, there is hardly room to consider the exclusive antiques and collectables that will be on display. Don’t forget about the distinctive, meticulous landscaping, not to mention the breathtaking view from each wonder you will visit on this tour. This year, there is a new feature to appreciate—live entertainment in some of the homes. Imagine being able to enjoy a string quartet or a pianist while touring.

This is definitely an event worth attending! You can take the tour by land (car) or water (boat). Either form of transportation may be privately owned or rented. This event will be held rain or shine, but the homes are not handicap accessible. Tickets are $20 if purchased in advance and $25 if purchased the weekend of the event.

The Home Tour has already acquired over $80,000 in both business and individual sponsorships. The 8 charities benefiting from this event have done their fair share in trying to generate these sponsorships and continue to work hard to create more interest.

Held at the same time this year,The Fall Festival will show off the area as well as the homes on the tour. There will be tours of Bridgewater Plaza, Downtown Moneta, The Forum, Lake Plaza, The General Store and P.W. Morgan Farms, plus big discounts on boat rentals, a weekend package at the Mariners Landing, half-price workout passes at the YMCA, and plenty of discounts at local restaurants for tour ticket holders. By the time the weekend occurs, event planners anticipate that there will be even more discounts available.

On Friday and Saturday, the tour times are 10am – 5pm. On Sunday, it will be 1pm – 5pm. And tickets are valid all three days, one visit per person per home. That leaves some flexibility for enjoying both the Home Tour and the Fall Festival. So mark your calendars and make a weekend of it! For more information on touring or making a donation, please visit the SML 2011 Charity Home Tour website.

The weekend should be fun for locals, visitors, and especially those who are considering a move to Smith Mountain Lake. As you can tell just from the extraordinary events planned for October alone, SML is an amazing place for a permanent residence. For assistance in buying lakefront property, call me, Vicki Millehan. I will be more than happy to give you some housing suggestions. I have over 19 years of experience in selling waterfront homes, and am a long-time resident of Smith Mountain Lake. My web page always has a current list of events that are taking place in Smith Mountain Lake.

Get the whole family involved in a relic from the past by bringing them out to The Sedalia Center’s Sedalia Country Fair! This fun-filled nostalgic country fair event takes place nearby to Smith Mountain Lake at Bedford’s Sedalia Center and includes activities such as food competitions, agricultural displays, tons of animals and other kids’ activities, local vendors and more! Step back in time as you experience an old-fashioned fair atmosphere that’s fun for the entire family.

All the fun takes place on September 10th beginning at 10:00 a.m. and keeps going until 6:00 that evening. Some of the highlights of the event include the Coon Mule Jump and the food competitions, with categories ranging from best homegrown produce, home canned vegetables, meats and fruits to baked goods. No pre-registration is necessary to enter the competition, and for more contest guidelines visit http://www.sedaliacenter.org/?q=/events/Country_fair_2011

As the main event of the fair, a very famous visitor will be present to entertain and delight the audience: Amazing Grace, trick mule will be performing live! This is no ordinary trick mule; Amazing Grace has earned renowned fame and has co-starred in movies with the likes of Robert Duvall, Sissy Spacek, Bill Murray and Lucas Black. Grace is the star of the movie Get Low and can perform tricks such as dunking a basketball, playing the piano, painting on canvas, getting the mail and doing basic multiplication! Read more about her and watch a video of her featured on the Today Show here and don’t miss out on your chance to see this unique movie star in our own backyard! The kids will love Amazing Grace the mule and adults will be delighted and awed by her talents as well.

Admission to the fair for adults is just $5 and children 12 and under are admitted for free. This event is a great opportunity to mimic the fair atmosphere and community gatherings of the not-too-distant past and to come together as a community in the beautiful, agriculturally rich setting of Bedford and Smith Mountain Lake. Don’t miss your chance for exciting family fun in the sun this September!

For more information visit the event site or call (434) 299-5080. The Sedalia Center is located at 1108 Sedalia School Road in Bedford and is conveniently located to the Smith Mountain Lake area.

We hope to see you there!

For more live musicians and entertainment as well as an opportunity to enjoy some great local wine, consider stopping by Hickory Hill Vineyards and Winery located in the beautiful Smith Mountain Lake area on Saturdays this summer.

Each event will be held on Saturdays through September 3rd and will run from 7:00-10:00 pm.

The lineup of local musicians is as follows:

July 2nd: Kevin Marshall-a songwriter from Charlotte, NC who previously played in the Sutton Ain’t Right band. He is the cousin of local musician Scott Sutton.
July 16th: Square Peg-a jazz duo performing live
July 23rd: Kat Mills-an acoustic singer/songwriter based out of Blacksburg, VA
July 30th: Sparks Will Fly-A blues/rock/acoustic group based out of Roanoke, with Brittany Sparks on vocals, Billy McCray on guitar, and Scott Sutton on bass.
Hear some of their music at ReverbNation
September 3rd: Larry, Mike & Chip-a group of songwriters who will be performing as “songwriters in the round.”

The cost is $10 including glass and tasting. Kids & DDs get in free.

Bring lawn chairs and a picnic spread and sample Hickory Hill’s fine wines, available for purchase by the glass or bottle, all while enjoying live local musicians!

Offering fine wine and delicious gourmet cuisine, Chateau Morisette is the perfect place to spend your Sunday listening to free live music and enjoying grilled foods, soft drinks and wine available to be purchased beginning at noon. You can even bring your own picnic and just enjoy the atmosphere and free entertainment.

Chateau Morrisette holds these events every Sunday through October. On Sunday, June 26^th, the live music and entertainment begins at 1:00 pm and ends at 4:00. They are located at:
287 Winery Road SW in Floyd, Virginia.

This Sunday’s entertainment is Crusher Run, who has been playing bluegrass, traditional folk country, and folk music since the fall of 2000. They describe themselves as a “Goodtime Band”. You can hear their music at http://www.myspace.com/crusherrun

Come out for free entertainment and purchase some food from the grill. Be sure to bring your own seating.

If you’d rather do something earlier in the morning, a Sunday Brunch Buffet is held every Sunday June-October from 11:00 am until 3:00 pm.

The buffet is $23.95 per adult and $12 for children under 12.

A limited a la carte menu is also available.

Take advantage of Chateau Morrisette’s special summer events!

For more information visit http://www.thedogs.com, email info@chateaumorrisette.com, or call (540) 593-2865

You know that Bedford County is known for its history and its wine! This weekend you have the chance to enjoy both, plus a little music and some stargazing too! You can enjoy candlelight tours of the Old City Cemetery, Spooky Ghost stories, and checking out the lovely hues of autumn leaves, all without leaving the area!

Gravestones Talk!
On Saturday evening, you can choose from lots of great things to do with the family. If you love history and stories of days gone by, then the Old City Cemetery Candlelight tours is right up your alley! The Old City Cemetery can be toured any day of the week from dusk until dawn. The daytime visits are free! The Mourning Museum is open 11am -3pm everyday of the week through October. There are other museums on the site to tour as well. But if you want to enjoy an interactive experience then the Candle light tour is the way to go! Actors dress up as the cemetery residents and share their story. It is quite an experience! For more information you can call 434-847-1465.

Spooky Tales!
If you want a more spooky experience, then spend Saturday at Peaks of Otter Winery! During the day you can enjoy a beautiful tour of the winery and enjoy the Peak Foliage Open House. It is FREE from noon to 5pm! Enjoy fresh cider and apples; try some of the unique wines of the vineyard! Then head over to the Peaks of Otter Lodge for the final evening program of the season: Spooky Ghost Stories! One of our fine Park Rangers will tell “home brewed” ghost stories based on the legend and lore of the mountains! Costumes welcome!! There will be free candy too! So bring the little ones out for a fun night starting at 7:30pm in the Flat Top Room.

Starry Night!
Lastly, if you want to just sit back and enjoy the stars then head over to Hickory Hills Vineyard! This free event starts at 6pm on October 24th. Live music will play until the sun goes down and the stars come out! Local astronomer Jim Schauberger will be on hand with his telescope to give a tour of the clear night sky! The night tour will begin at 10PM, bring the kids, the blanket and dress warm! You can even a picnic under the stars! If you have binoculars or even your own telescope, bring those too and enjoy the beauty of Virginia’s night skies!!

These are just a few of the things going on around Bedford, VA! So come for a visit, and if you like it then move here! Finding your perfect waterfront property does not have to be scary! Just give Vicki Millehan a call! She can help you find the right home for you!

The hustle and bustle of summer at Smith Mountain Lake is pretty exciting. Lots of activities and days in the sun seem to fly by way too fast! A sunset summer cruise is pretty amazing. But don’t count out the ol’ Lake just because autumn is here! You may be surprised at what you may find if you take a Saturday to cruise the lake in fall!

Don’t winterize that boat just yet! There are some pretty spectacular things to see. There is probably nothing more peaceful than the lake in the fall. Boat traffic is pretty slow compared to summer months, so there is certain tranquility to a crisp autumn cruise. The air is fresh and the foliage is breathtaking! One real advantage is the colors seems to last just a little longer around the lake, giving you more time to take it all in! So grab a cup of coffee and a blanket for the trip home and spend some time enjoying fall from the water!

Of course, for those who prefer sailboats to powerboats, fall is a great time on the lake! The breezes are more reliable in autumn and with lighter boat traffic, you can tack to your heart’s content!! On most Saturdays and Sundays in October, you can catch a sailboat race! There is even a sailing school right on the lake! Yes, just because you have to trade your swimsuit for a jacket, doesn’t mean that enjoying being on the lake is over!

If you haven’t had a chance to “fall” in love with Smith Mountain Lake, then you need to come for a visit! If you like it, then move here! From hot summer days to snow covered mountains there just isn’t a bad time to call Franklin County and Bedford County home!

If you want to call this area home, then call Vicki Millehan, your local real estate expert! She can help you find the home you have been looking for! From wineries to lake front properties, there is no place like Smith Mountain Lake!!