Friday, December 29, 2017
Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Friday, December 15, 2017
Abingdon’s January Jams selected as prestigious Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Abingdon’s January Jams concert series has
been named by the Southeast Tourism Society (STS) as one of the STS Top 20
Events in the Southeast for January 2018.
This year’s January Jams program runs on
weekends at the historic Barter Theatre in Abingdon throughout the month of
January. A diverse music line-up is on tap this year for the series which is
hosted by the Town of Abingdon and presented by Blue Ridge Beverage. Additional
support comes from Eastman Credit Union, First Community Bank, The Bank of
Marion, Universal Fibers, Food City and JJ’s Restaurant and Sports Bar.
Travel industry experts select 20 events per
month, and STS publicizes them throughout the United States. The complete list
is published on two websites: Southeast Tourism Society andTravel Media Press
Room.
The STS Top 20 Festival and Event Awards have highlighted programs around the
Southeast since 1985.
“January Jams at the Barter
showcases intimate concerts with music legends,” said Sara Saavedra, special
events coordinator for the Town of Abingdon. “We are pleased to receive this
recognition from the Southeast Tourism Society.
“As Abingdon's largest tourism
driver, when Barter Theatre went dark in January, so did many of our
restaurants in town, closing for the entire month,” she continued. “January Jams changes that by putting
Grammy-Award winning artists on stage each weekend of the month. An intimate
venue with just 500 seats, January Jams is a unique experience with these
musicians that cannot be replicated anywhere else.”
The concert line-up and ticket pricing for
the 2018 series schedule is as follows:
·
January 5: Amythyst Kiah
& Her Chest of Glass, $15; and January 6: Lillie Mae, $18; or Weekend: $30.
·
January 12: John Paul
White, $25; and January 13, John Moreland, $22; or Weekend: $42.
·
January 19: David Grisman
& John Sebastian, $57.50; and January 20, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
with Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley, $25; or Weekend: $75.
·
January 26: Muddy
Magnolias, $20; and January 27: Booker T Jones, $57.50; or Weekend: $70.
“The Southeast is home to unique and
memorable events throughout the year,” said Bill Hardman, president and CEO of
the Southeast Tourism Society. “In spotlighting the Top 20 festivals and events
each month, STS is not only giving these events the recognition they deserve
but we’re also creating a quick reference guide to some of the best festivals
in the Southeast. These events are important to the economic vitality of our
communities and this is a way for us to acknowledge the time and resources
organizers have tirelessly spent to create memories for their attendees.”
Events considered for the STS Top 20
recognition must be at least three years old and have attendance of at least
1,000.
“Now entering its sixth year, January
Jams has helped to firmly establish Abingdon as an up-and-coming music
destination,” Saavedra said. “Agents and artists are now requesting to be
considered for the series which has increased the caliber of musicians
participating every year. Our surveys show that people are driving from as far
away as four hours to attend the shows and since 2013, meals and lodging taxes
collected in Abingdon have increased steadily during January and we expect it
to continue to trend in that direction because of January Jams.”
STS, founded in 1983 and headquartered
in Atlanta, Ga., is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting tourism to
and within 12 states – Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky,
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and
West Virginia.
###
Wednesday, December 13, 2017
Tuesday, December 12, 2017
Friday, December 8, 2017
Thursday, December 7, 2017
Thursday, November 30, 2017
The Gallery @ Barr Photographics announces the holiday installment of the Corner Gallery’s 2017 exhibition series
The Gallery @ Barr Photographics announces the holiday installment of the Corner
Gallery’s 2017 exhibition
series, with an exhibit of oil and mixed media paintings entitled “Peaceful Pathways” by award winning, Bluff
City TN, plein aire artist, Renee Pitts.
Renee
Ledford Pitts grew up in the beautiful area of East Tennessee where mountains,
meadows, rivers, and streams provided inspiration and solace. She began her art path as a child, inspired
and motivated by the creativity of her grandmother and mother. Renee’s
grandmother was a quilter and maker of everything it seems; her mother was a
painter for Blue Ridge Pottery located in the beautiful mountains of Erwin, TN. Renee loved creating art as a child. In her biographical sketch, Renee reflects on
the first time a kindergarten teacher put a brush in her hand and stood her in
front of the classroom easel. It was a magical moment, one that prompted her to
think of herself as an artist. Later in
her matriculation Renee decided to use her creativity and passion for life to
help others so she pursued a degree in education culminating in a BS Education,
East Tennessee State University. Renee
became a secondary school art teacher for both public and private high schools
in Tennessee for thirty years. Renee found that art was a connection to others,
which inspired a cognizance, from deep within a person’s spirit that could not
be found in other subjects. She also found that art would not let her rest
without continuing to pursue her own artistic career. To that end, Renee acquired a Masters in Art
from East Tennessee State University. From that moment to present, she has
continued to learn, grow, and develop as an artist in her own right. Attending
workshops, classes, and receiving mentoring from many different artists known
internationally and nationally have helped her develop her style and
techniques. Because of her experience as
an art teacher working with many different genres of art, mediums, and forms, Renee
has developed a desire for employing different mediums and moves back and forth
between them finding inspiration and motivation for her artwork. Creating from
fiber, mixed media, watercolor, drawing, using inks and producing beautiful
papers, Renee loves it all. This
fascination with art mediums and their inherent techniques broadens her
approach to various mediums and helps her find a constant source of enthusiasm
for creating new works. The famous artists, about whom she taught her students,
are held like reference cards in her mind and their works, techniques and
approach to work have influenced her immensely.
Groups like The Hudson Valley painters, American Scene Painters, the
Impressionists are a constant source of revelation which inspires Renee to
bring her own voice to the art world, and most importantly to those with whom
she comes in contact. Renee draws
further inspiration from the beauty of creation, its display of purpose,
life-giving cycles, and exhibition of the design principles provide a
never-ending source for her work as a plein air artist, which she considers a
calling, and passion, ever learning, trying new techniques.
In
her Artist’s Statement, Renee reveals, ““I want to invite the viewer to stop and observe the
beauty of life in the extraordinary moments and scenes from our everyday
lives. We are so busy that we do not see
the message of joy, hope, and renewal that God has placed before us in His
creation. If we pause to notice the elements
of art in our settings, the colors, the lines, values in the beautiful scenery
around us we can find a peace for that moment, a healing sense that there is
something worth noticing and appreciating and learning about life no matter who
we are, where we are, or what we are doing. Taking a moment to enjoy beauty
rests our soul and transports us to another place, outside our troubling or
taxing circumstances. I want the
compositional arrangement of light, color, texture, value, and movement to
speak to the viewer in such a way that the moment captured belongs to his or
her own experience."
When
she and husband, George Pitts, head basketball coach at King University, moved
back to the area from Brentwood Tennessee, they found the perfect place to
experience the beauty of East Tennessee in the rolling hills and meadows of
Sullivan County. Renee enjoys plein air painting from this little slice of
heaven, and maintains a home studio that looks out at the Holston Mountain and
its beautiful foothills. Because she
enjoys teaching and sharing the joy of art creation to others she opens her
studio to workshops and classes. These “Art Around the Table’ opportunities
allow others to grow and develop as artists too.
No
matter where she travels, she finds time to paint the landscape, to appreciate
the life that God has given her and the beauty He has given to us to
enjoy. These beautiful places, these
beautiful scenes become paintings and she hopes that they are more than just a
pretty picture on the wall. She wants to inspire a desire for joy, respite,
peace that is found in nature, and a responsibility to sustain and protect the
beautiful places we have the opportunity to experience.
“Peaceful
Pathways” will be celebrated with a gala reception and
demonstration of technique by Ms Pitts, to which the public is cordially,
invited, on Friday, 08 December from
7 - 9:00 PM in The Gallery @ Barr Photographics, 152 E. Main Street, Abingdon, Virginia. “Peaceful Pathways” will hang, and be offered for sale, through 31,
January 2018. The Gallery @ Barr
Photographics is housed in the Greenway Trigg Building, located in the heart of
Abingdon’s main street historic district.
Please call 276- 628-1486 or visit http://barrphotographics.com for
further information.
Photo
#1: “Enlightenment”, Oil by Renee Pitts
Photo
#2: “Open Door”, Oil by Renee Pitts
Abingdon January Jams Promises Diverse Music Line-Up
A diverse music line-up is
on tap in January in Abingdon as the sixth annual January Jams concert series, produced by Abingdon Music Experience and
presented by Blue Ridge Beverage,
gets underway at the Barter Theatre. From alt-country to soul to bluegrass and
rock, Fridays and Saturdays in January promise something for music lovers of
all ages and all genres.
Opportunities to see the legendary
Booker T. Jones, as well as David Grisman and John Paul White
this close to home are few and far between, but this year, all three will be a
part of the January Jams series.
“This is our most diverse
January Jams lineup yet,” said Sara Saavedra, special events coordinator for
the Town of Abingdon. “From African-American alt-country singer Amythyst Kiah;
the soul musician and living legend Booker T. Jones; to the
Nashville-based Muddy Magnolias, currently exploding on the scene with a sound
that Rolling Stone says ‘melds city grit and delta dirt,’ we have
something for everyone.”
The concert series, produced
by Abingdon Music Experience and presented by Blue Ridge Beverage, will see
concert goers enjoying January nights or weekends of music in the historic
Barter Theatre in downtown Abingdon. Since the series started six years
ago, the Barter has had a full house attending the events to see nationally
known music acts which in past years have included music legends like the Blind
Boys of Alabama and Del McCoury, as well as up and coming artists who went on
to gain a huge national following, like St. Paul and the Broken Bones and
Anderson East.
This year’s January Jams
promises more of the same. As in the past, the series features nationally
known performers, including Grammy Award winners and a Rock N Roll Hall of
Fame inductee.
"We paid a lot of
attention to diversity this year as we were booking the series,” Saavedra said.
“Diversity in music, gender and ethnicity are all a part of this year’s series.
Abingdon is a music destination for any music lover, and this lineup includes a
wide range of legendary musicians alongside up and coming acts out of
Nashville."
Attending January Jams at
Barter Theatre is special, because it’s an intimate, “listening room”
experience, Saavedra said. The concerts are seated, and the focus is 100
percent on the music. Additionally, she noted the Barter also offers beer
and wine for sale in the lobby, which can be enjoyed in concert seating.
"There is life after
New Years,” Saavedra said. “Abingdon is open for business every Friday and Saturday
in January. It's the perfect excuse to cure your cabin fever, come out to
Abingdon and enjoy dinner at one of our independent restaurants.
“Make it an overnight, and
enjoy a weekend of music," she suggested. “Abingdon’s restaurants and
hotels are open for business and you can enjoy very affordable rates because
it’s the off season. Walk to nearby restaurants, or ask about shuttle services
to local hotels.”
Nightly, weekend and series
passes for the January Jams series are available. Season passes are $210.
A bluegrass weekend package
is offered at the Hampton Inn for $398 which includes two weekend passes and a
two-night stay at the Hampton Inn.
All packages or
weekend/series passes may be purchased through the Barter Box Office.
January Jams 2018 is presented
by Blue Ridge Beverage and is sponsored by Eastman Credit Union, First
Community Bank, The Bank of Marion and Universal Fibers. Additional support is
provided by Food City, JJ’s Restaurant and Sports Bar and the Town of
Abingdon.
The concert line-up and
ticket pricing are as follows:
January 5: Amythyst Kiah & Her Chest
of Glass, $15; and January 6: Lillie Mae, $18; or Weekend: $30.
·
Amythyst
Kiah & Her Chest of Glass-A professed Southern
Gothic, alt-country blues singer/songwriter based in Johnson City, TN.
Provocative and coolly fierce, Amythyst Kiah’s ability to cross the boundaries
of blues and old-time through reinterpretation is groundbreaking and simply
unforgettable. Recent tours in Scotland and the U.K. have seen Amythyst
performing for audiences at the Americana Music Association UK Showcase, the
Southern Fried Festival, Cambridge Folk Festival, the Edinburgh Jazz Festival,
and SummerTyne Americana Festival. She is a crowd favorite at Bristol Rhythm
& Roots Reunion in the U.S., has performed at the John F. Kennedy Center
for Performing Arts, and the Smithsonian Folk Life Festival.
·
Lillie
Mae- Nashville-based singer-songwriter and
multi-instrumentalist, Lillie Mae is a remarkably gifted musical storyteller, a
bright new star that’s been here all along.
Her much anticipated, Third Man Records debut "Forever and Then
Some" which is produced by multiple
GRAMMY® Award-winner Jack White III at Third Man Studio in Nashville, weaves
her own extraordinary experiences with the myriad strains of Americana to
create a breathtaking song cycle of romance and struggle, solitude and
adventure.
January 12: John Paul White, $25; and
January 13, John Moreland, $22; or Weekend: $42.
·
John
Paul White - An American singer-songwriter, and was a
member of the GRAMMY® Award-winning
duo The Civil Wars. John Paul White,
restarting his solo career with his 2016 release, "Beulah" which is
a remarkably and assuredly diverse collection spanning plaintive folk balladry,
swampy southern rock, lonesome campfire songs, and dark acoustic pop. Gothic
and ambitious, with a rustic, lived-in sound, it’s a meditation on love
curdling into its opposite, on recrimination defining relationships, on hope
finally filtering through doubt.
·
John Moreland - Oklahoma based Americana-Folk- Alternative Country
singer-songwriter who's powerful lyrics, skillful fingerpicking, and gravelly
vocal delivery has been touted by Rolling Stone Magazine as "an
emotionally riveting performance" after his performance on the Stephen
Colbert show. Three
of Moreland's songs, "Heaven," "Gospel," and "Your
Spell", have been featured on the TV show, Sons of Anarchy.
January 19: David Grisman & John
Sebastian, $57.50; and January 20, Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen with Rob
Ickes & Trey Hensley, $25; or Weekend: $75.
·
David Grisman - California based, mandolinist- composer-
bandleader- producer, David Grisman has been a guiding force for nearly half a
century in the evolving world of acoustic music. His musical range is wide and
deep, embracing many styles, genres and traditions. An acoustic pioneer and
innovator, David forged a unique personal artistic path, skillfully combining
elements of the great American music/art forms of jazz and bluegrass with many
international flavors and sensibilities to create his own distinctive idiom of
"Dawg" music (the nickname given him by Jerry Garcia.) In doing so,
he Ãs inspired new generations of acoustic string musicians, while creating his
own niche in contemporary music. His discography is filled with notables
including Jerry Garcia, Stephane Grappelli, the Grateful Dead, John Hartford,
Del McCoury, Bonnie Raitt, Linda Ronstadt, Earl Scruggs, James Taylor and Doc
Watson
·
John
Sebastian- American
singer-songwriter, guitarist, harmonicist, and autoharpist, John is best known
as a founder of The Lovin' Spoonful for his impromptu appearance at the Woodstock
festival in 1969; and for his No. 1 hit
in 1976, "Welcome Back". John’s induction into the
Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame in 2000 hasn’t slowed him down. Whether the stage is
at Carnegie Hall or a folk festival in some far-flung locale, John is still out
there spreading his gospel of American roots music. He is the subject of the
PBS special Do You Believe In Magic: The Music of John Sebastian, and an album
of duets with David Grisman was released in 2007. He has also lent his music in
support of social, environmental and animal rights causes. Recently he joined a
delegation of songwriters (including Lamont Dozier, Allen and Marilyn Bergman,
and Mike Stoller) in Washington, DC to campaign on behalf of the National Music
Publisher’s Association. Perhaps because it has been the product of heart and
soul and history, the oldest song in the Sebastian catalog is as fresh and
vital as the song he’s about to write tomorrow. That’s why you still hear his
music everywhere – in movies, on television, in cover versions and samples –
and why it’s always welcome. John is also a welcome media presence; his
commentary, insights and anecdotes and stories are regularly featured in print,
radio, TV and film documentary projects. John Sebastian is not only a master
musician, writer and performer, he remains one of the best ambassadors American
music has ever had.
·
Frank
Solivan & Dirty Kitchen
- Solvian is a Washington D.C. based mandolinist, recording artist, composer, and leader of the progressive
bluegrass band Dirty Kitchen. Frank Solivan & Dirty Kitchen were named IBMA’s 2016
Instrumental Group of the Year for the second time, with a third nomination in
2017. Their critically acclaimed album Cold Spell earned a 2015 GRAMMY
nomination for Best Bluegrass Album of the Year, yet the accolades don’t end
there. Solivan, with banjoist Mike Munford, 2013 IBMA Banjo Player of the Year,
award-winning guitarist Chris Luquette and bassist Jeremy Middleton, simmer a
progressive bluegrass stew of infinite instrumental, vocal and songwriting
skills soon to be featured once again on a new album coming 2018. Their respect
and deep understanding of the tradition collides, live on stage, with jazz
virtuosity creating an unforgettable, compelling performance.
·
Rob Ickes & Trey Hensley-
Nashville based Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley were sure that
their musical partnership was the right move at the right time, it was still
welcome news when their debut Compass Records project, Before The Sun Goes
Down, earned a nomination for the Best Bluegrass Album Grammy just about the
time that Ickes took leave of the band he’d been in for over 20 years to make
the joint venture the centerpiece of his career. With the release of their new project, The
Country Blues on July 8th the pair build on the first one’s strengths to take
their unique musical conversation to an even higher level. There’s no doubt that it’s Ickes and Hensley
who are front and center on The Country Blues—and that’s just how it should
be. After all, when something’s meant to
be, the best thing to do is to get out of the way and let it go.
January 26: Muddy Magnolias, $20; and
January 27: Booker T Jones, $57.50; or Weekend: $70.
·
Muddy
Magnolias - Nashville
based rock band fronted by Brooklyn native, Jessy Wilson. After landing in
Nashville four years ago to further explore her career in songwriting, Wilson
formed Muddy Magnolias—a raw, soulful extension of blues roots rock. Her
essence on stage embodies her most beloved influences- Nina Simone, Aretha
Franklin and Tina Turner. The band found quick success touring with Gary Clark
Jr., Zac Brown Band, Grace Potter, Record Company and debuting at Lollapalooza,
Austin City Limits music festival and more. Their debut album “Broken People”
was release in October 2016 and was praised by New York Times, NPR and named
number one on Yahoo’s
“10 best new artists of 2016”
·
Booker
T. Jones - The
legendary Booker T. Jones arguably set the cast for modern soul music and is
largely responsible for its rise and enduring popularity. Booker T. has created
masterpiece after masterpiece of groove, earning him a place in the Rock &
Roll Hall of Fame and Musicians Hall of Fame, as well as a GRAMMY Lifetime
Achievement Award. Another bold step in
his spectacular musical voyage, the new album Sound the Alarm finds the Hammond
B3 organ master looking ahead yet again, laying down his distinctive bedrock
grooves amid a succession of sparkling collaborations with some of contemporary
R&B’s most gifted young voices. It
can be argued that it was Booker T. Jones who set the cast for modern soul
music and is largely responsible for its rise and enduring popularity. He
pushed the music’s boundaries with his hits on Stax, refined it to its essence
and then injected it into the nation’s bloodstream. Outside of the band, Jones
made the charts as a solo artist and produced albums for Rita Coolidge, Bill
Withers, Willie Nelson's Stardust and more and lent his trademark keyboards to
many artists ranging in genre from Ray Charles to Neil Young. Booker more
recently won back to back GRAMMY AWARDS in the category Best Pop Instrumental
Album for his 2011 release The Road From Memphis where he is backed by the hip
hop band The Roots and for the 2009 album Potato Hole which features guests
Neil Young and Drive By Truckers. He's also been in the spotlight leading an
all-star band for a number of events for President Obama, the latest being an
In Performance at the White House gala devoted to Memphis soul that aired on
PBS. Booker’s current album Sound The Alarm (Stax/Concord) is critically
acclaimed and features collaborations with some of the finest talents in modern
soul and R&B including Mayer Hawthorne, Anthony Hamilton, Vintage Trouble,
Estelle, Gary Clark, Jr., Luke James and more. Rolling Stone raves “Booker T.
Unleashes The Blues on Sound The Alarm”, and No Depression proclaims
“With…Sound The Alarm marking a brilliant return to Stax Records after 40
years, Jones is currently on tour. Catch him if you can, and change your plans
to make it if you think you can’t.”
###
Monday, November 27, 2017
Farris Funeral Service to Host Giving Tree and Food Drive
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 24, 2017
Farris Funeral Service to Host Giving Tree and Food
Drive
ABINGDON, Va. — Farris
Funeral Service & Crematory is taking action against hunger in the community
by hosting a Christmas Giving Tree and Community Food Drive.
“We
know there are many individuals whose resources are spread thin in our
community, especially during the holiday season,” says Kim Farris-Luke,
president and owner of Abingdon-based Farris Funeral Service & Crematory.
“We love being a part of this community, and are always looking for ways we can
volunteer our time and resources to make a positive impact on the lives of
others.”
Residents
of Washington County and surrounding areas who want to participate are asked to
donate a non-perishable canned food item or jar of peanut butter during the
food drive. Donations will be accepted Monday, Nov. 27 through Wednesday, Dec.
20, and may be placed under the Christmas tree in the lobby of the Main Street
Chapel, located at 427 East Main St. in Abingdon, Virginia, from 8:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m. Monday through Sunday.
All
collected donations will be distributed by Ecumenical Faith in Action, a
nonprofit organization located in Abingdon that provides food, medical and
financial assistance, and counseling to more than 1,350 individuals each month.
For
more information, call (276) 623-2700 or email farrisdirector@gmail.com.
About Farris Funeral Service & Crematory
Celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2017, Farris
Funeral Service & Crematory is the only Washington County, Virginia,
funeral home that has been owned and managed by the same family throughout its
history. This continuity provides the organization unparalleled perspective on
the services, administrative assistance and emotional support needed during the
bereavement process. Farris’ spacious facilities offer a number of
conveniences, including a full-service reception center available for
gatherings and meals, comfortable meeting areas and ample parking.
Administrative offerings include assistance with the filing of essential
documents, as well as a number of grief education and counseling programs. For
more information, call (276) 623-2700 or visit www.farrisfuneralservice.com.
-end-
Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Abingdon is “dreaming of a White Christmas”- Discount Participants
*Did
you know that for every $100 you spend locally, $68 stays in the community!*
Join
us in Abingdon this Sunday, November 19, 1:00PM-6:00PM for early shopping
opportunities, specials, refreshments, concerts and Santa will be at The
Antique Barn! Most shops have gift items under $20!
See
the list of merchants who will be open and the specials they will offer.
Please join the Hearts Of Gold Choir for a Sing Along at the Main Street Park
(across from the Post Office) from 1:00PM-2:00PM and the VHCC Women’s Choir 2:00PM-3:00PM
at Sinking Spring Presbyterian Church.
Monday, November 13, 2017
Abingdon is “dreaming of a White Christmas”
November
9, 2017
Abingdon is “dreaming
of a White Christmas,”
with a month of holiday activities for
families November 17 – December 9
Abingdon, VA – It’s going to be a white Christmas in
Abingdon this season, regardless of the weather forecast. Beginning Friday November 17, Abingdon
celebrates “An Old-Fashioned White Christmas,” a month of family-friendly
holiday activities. At the heart of the
holiday schedule is Barter Theatre’s “White Christmas,” which provided
inspiration for the Town’s holiday celebration.
Experience a Christmas “just like the ones we used
to know,” with a month of holiday celebrations in Abingdon, November 17th
through December 9th. Abingdon’s quaint downtown will be
transformed in to a Christmas wonderland, with carolers, magical storefront
displays, the scent of roasted chestnuts on the air and special events to
celebrate the season. There will be plenty
of opportunities to find the perfect gift, as Abingdon’s merchants will stay
open late each weekend to accommodate shoppers.
The Christmas season begins in Abingdon with the
opening of Barter Theatre’s “White Christmas,” Friday November 17th. Barter is a holiday tradition for many
families in the region, and this year’s offering is a lavish production of the
beloved Christmas movie. It’s a timeless tale of joy
and goodwill filled with Irving Berlin’s best songs, topped off with glorious
dancing and lots of snow, making this a show a holiday classic for all
audiences. The fun continues with “Rudolph,” a holiday story for young
audiences, and the hilarious comedies “A Tuna Christmas,” and “The Santaland
Diaries,” (better suited for adults).
With plenty to see and do each weekend, families
will want to plan to spend the entire day in Abingdon.
The Abingdon Farmers Market will hold a Holiday
Market each Saturday morning from 10am to 12pm with baked goods, crafts and
gifts, and Abingdon’s merchants will compete for the best store window, with
“White Christmas” themed displays. Other
activities include free Christmas concerts, holiday craft workshops for kids,
and photos with Santa, hosted by Abingdon’s businesses and non-profits. For a
full list of holiday activities for families, go to
VisitAbingdonVirginia.com/Christmas.
Town-wide events include:
Abingdon
Merchants’ Holiday Open House
Sunday November
19th, 1pm to 6pm
Kick
off the holiday season with a town-wide open house, hosted by Abingdon’s merchants.
Jump-start the holiday season, with extended shopping hours (1pm to 6pm), free
holiday concerts, and free refreshments at many stores. New this year,
Abingdon’s businesses will compete for the most over-the-top window display,
inspired by Barter Theatre’s “White Christmas.”
For more information, go to VisitAbingdonVirginia.com/Christmas
Small Business Saturday
Saturday November 25th,
11am to 7pm
Skip the Black Friday madness, and head to downtown
Abingdon for Small Business Saturday.
Abingdon will celebrate with free family activities and extended
merchant hours 11am to 7pm. Roasted chestnuts will be on sale at Main Street
Town Park starting at 11am until supplies run out, and the cast of Barter
Theatre’s “Rudolph” will be caroling 11am to 1pm on West Main Street. block
between Cummings and Russell Road. For more information, go to VisitAbingdonVirginia.com/Christmas
Santa’s Mailbox
November 15 – December 10
Make the holidays extra special for your little ones
this year with a personal letter from the big guy, postmarked from North Pole,
Alaska. Write your letter to Santa, and
drop it in Santa’s Mailbox, located next to The Candy Shed at 272 W. Main
Street in downtown Abingdon. Letters
must be dropped off between November 15 and December 10, and must include a
name and full return address. For more
information, go to VisitAbingdonVirginia.com/Christmas
Abingdon Christmas Tree Lighting
and Christmas Parade
December 1st and 2nd
Friday December 1st is the annual
Abingdon Christmas Tree Lighting, at 6:00pm At the Market Pavilion on Remsburg
Drive. Saturday December 2nd is Abingdon’s Annual Christmas Parade,
presented by the Kiwanis Club, 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Abingdon Baptist Church will offer free cocoa
and hot cider during the parade, while the American Chestnut Foundation will
offer roasted chestnuts for sale. Both
events are free, and Abingdon’s merchants and restaurants will be open late to
welcome families.
Go to VisitAbingdonVirginia.com/Christmas for a full
list of holiday events and promotions.
Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Monday, November 6, 2017
2017 America Recycles Day
America
Recycles Day
On Saturday, November 11, 2017, the Town of Abingdon
Sustain Abingdon Committee, Keep Southwest Virginia Beautiful and the WACOVA
Timebank will hold an America Recycles Day/SWAP event. This event will be from
9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the Abingdon Police Department parking lot (425 West Main
Street, Abingdon). There will be on-site FREE e-waste recycling and FREE document
shredding. Donations needed this year
are gently used shoes and supplies for the local animal shelter (food, treats,
cat litter, blankets, bleach & detergent) and are greatly appreciated. If you bring donation items, you will be
entered into a raffle to win various prizes. New this year is a SWAP event. The SWAP is a “bring something, take
something” swap. Items to bring/take
include tools, home electronics, and pet products. There will be free coffee and doughnuts while
supplies last. For more information on the America Recycles Day event, please
call 276-628-3167 or like us on www.facebook.com/sustainabingdon.
*See the attached flyers for acceptable
items for e-waste recycling and for more information.
Friday, November 3, 2017
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Location and Design public hearing scheduled for Interstate 81 Exit 17 improvements
LOCATION AND DESIGN PUBLIC HEARING SCHEDULED FOR
INTERSTATE 81 EXIT 17 IMPROVEMENTS
Thursday, November 2 from 6 - 8 p.m.
Virginia Highlands Small Business Incubator in Abingdon
BRISTOL – This week, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will hold a location and design public hearing for improvements to the Interstate 81 exit 17 interchange in the Abingdon area of Washington County.
The public hearing will be held
Thursday, November 2 from 6-8 p.m. at Virginia Highlands Small Business
Incubator, 851 French Moore Jr. Blvd in Abingdon.
The purpose of the meeting is to give citizens an opportunity to review the proposed project plans that include improvements to the exit 17 northbound on and off ramps, improvements to a segment of Route 75, reconstruction and relocation of Gravel Lake Road, and relocation of the frontage road located adjacent to the northbound exit 17 off ramp (Commerce Drive).
VDOT
encourages all interested citizens to attend the information meeting. To
give citizens more flexibility in their participation, there will be no formal
presentation. Instead, citizens will be able to review plans with VDOT
representatives at their convenience anytime between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Also, citizens will have an opportunity to record verbal comments for the official record anytime during the meeting. Written comments will be accepted during the meeting or may be submitted to VDOT by November 20, 2017. Mail comments to Mr. Ron Flanary, Project Manager, 870 Bonham Road, Bristol, Virginia 24201. Or, email comments to bristolinfo@vdot.virginia.gov, referencing “Interstate 81 Exit 17 improvements” in the email subject line.
Also, citizens will have an opportunity to record verbal comments for the official record anytime during the meeting. Written comments will be accepted during the meeting or may be submitted to VDOT by November 20, 2017. Mail comments to Mr. Ron Flanary, Project Manager, 870 Bonham Road, Bristol, Virginia 24201. Or, email comments to bristolinfo@vdot.virginia.gov, referencing “Interstate 81 Exit 17 improvements” in the email subject line.
For additional information, or if
you require special assistance to participate in the meeting, please call the
VDOT’s Bristol District office at (276) 669-6151 or device for hearing impaired
(TTY) at 711. (END)
Reporters: A media availability will be held at 5:30 p.m. to walk you through the displays and to answer any inquiries you have for VDOT prior to the 6 p.m. meeting.
Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Wednesday, October 18, 2017
Tuesday, October 17, 2017
Friday, October 6, 2017
Robert Duvall Visits Abingdon, VA
TOWN OF ABINGDON
Abingdon,
Virginia
For Immediate
Release
On October 5th, 2017, Town Manager Greg
Kelly met briefly with actor, Robert Duvall, prior to his speaking engagement
at the Barter Theatre. Mr. Kelly presented Mr. Duvall with a key to the Town of
Abingdon, and thanked him for his visit to help support the State Theatre of
Virginia.
The Town of Abingdon was honored to give Mr. Duvall
the key and we hope that he enjoyed his visit to Abingdon.
Pictured:
Town Manager Greg Kelly with actor, Robert Duvall.
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