Abingdon, Virginia, welcomes spring with Plumb Alley Day

Abingdon, Virginia, welcomes spring with Plumb Alley Day

The eighteenth annual Plumb Alley Day festival marches into Abingdon on May 27, Memorial Day weekend, at nine in the morning.

This spring-time festival opens with a 10 a.m. parade, which begins behind the Abingdon General Store , 301 East Main Street.

Leading the parade will be the Abingdon Highlanders Pipe and Drum Band. The parade will go up the alley and end at Cummings Street.

Children of all ages are invited to visit Van Gogh the art mobile which is the community outreach van of William King Regional Arts Center. The van will be located in the Methodist Church parking lot.

Art Center staff will be on hand to involve children with hands-on art activities featuring body art tattoos. Numerous items will be on sale from the center’s store. A children’s sidewalk art contest will be located in the Sinking Springs Presbyterian Church parking lot. Cash prizes will be awarded to three winners in various age categories.

Sagegrass, an award-winning bluegrass band will perform at the town hall parking lot from 10:30 to 1:30. Alternating with Sagegrass will be a Team Penny, a new band from Teiford, Tennessee. This group of three brothers play everything from oldies, pop and rock to country. Team Penny was named the Tennessee state youth country band in 1999.

Last year Plumb Alley Day drew an estimated 10,000 attendees, and a similar crowd is expected this year. Some 175 vendors of arts, crafts, antiques, yard sale items and food will be available, and the WXBQ rabbit will greet people on the alley.

Another annual feature is the Kiwanis giant yard sale, located in the lower level of the courthouse parking lot. Bargains abound, with a large variety of goods from which to choose.

The festival is a major fundraiser for the Kiwanis Club of Abingdon. All proceeds go to support over 40 charities and organizations in Abingdon and Washington County. Corporate sponsors are First Bank and Trust Company and Empire Ford. WXBQ, Bristol is the exclusive radio sponsor.

Information: 540/623-0443; vendor information: 540/669-9375 l