whirlygig festivalamagig

here is an overview of the whirlygig festival coming up this weekend-jm



Date: 10/26/2007
This year’s Whirligig Festival will be the largest yet with more than 120 booths including handmade arts and crafts, food and a variety of other attractions.

Music

Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes will headline the festival. The group is most widely known for the hit, “If You Don’t Know Me By Now.” They take the stage at 3:30pm on Saturday. The Embers will pick up the headliner spot on Sunday beginning at 1:30pm.

This year’s festival features 11 bands on three different stages playing a wide variety of music. Performances include: The Wallers, performing a variety of 70s-90s favorite dance tunes; Bombadil, mixing mainstream with an indie sound; Healing Force, an African-tribal performance band, Spare Change, mixing rock, country, soul and beach; The Winstons bring jazz and dance; Sajaso plays Latin dance, Russ Varnell and His Too Country band bring bluegrass and Grand Ole Opry style country; The Ramonas, a tribute band to the Ramones; wrapping up the lineup is MoJoe, a soulful hip-hop band.

“We are so proud of the lineup the Entertainment Committee has put together,” says Judi Thurston, festival coordinator. “All three stages will have music all day. People can stroll up and down Nash Street and hear a wide variety of music.”

The music continues Sunday afternoon from 1-5 pm with community church choirs and school chorus groups. Fike, Hunt and Beddingfield High Schools’ award winning choral groups will perform on the courthouse steps, along with Sallie B. Howard and the Barton College Gospel Choir and Sign Choir. Church choirs will be on the middle stage in at various intervals to allow attendees to hear all the music. Church groups include Wilson Community Church, 1st Free Will Baptist Church Youth Choir, Jackson Chapel First Baptist Church and the Wilson Praise and Worship choir.

Food

The area’s favorite food vendors have returned. The Elks Club will hold its big BBQ cook off again this year. Competitors drive in (from several hours away in some cases) and set up camp for the night on Friday. They’ll cook all night, then make the succulent pork BBQ available for sale to the crowd. Judging begins Saturday morning for the best BBQ prize and bragging rights.

Olde Time Concessions will impress festival goers again this year with their "Cruzin’ Diner". This 50’s style diner offers sirloin burgers and milkshakes; perfect food for a NC autumn afternoon. You could also try a sample of their gator bites.

This year’s festival also includes corn on the cob, funnel cakes, hamburgers, hot dogs and loads of other choices.

Children

The Arts Council is sponsoring the Whirli-Kids area again this year – historically one of the most popular places at the festival. Free children’s activities including inflatable bounce houses, bungee jump, and arts & crafts will be available in the Barnes Street parking lot. The Arts Council is also sponsoring the Whirli-Kids Choir and concert. After weeks of practicing, the children will perform a community concert at 3 pm. The Arts Council outdoor stage will also feature local talent performance groups including Megan’s Academy of Dance, East Coast Country Hoedowners, Unique Steppers, Real Dance Studio and Sallie B. Howard’s Hip Hop and Mime groups. You’ll even see some swashbuckling pirates dueling it out for the crowd. Want a sneak peak at them? Go to http://www.shadowcombat.com/.

International

The popular Around the World in Wilson tent will be at the center of the action with a new approach to cultural awareness. Ambassadors from 20 nations will lead 30-minute interactive sessions ranging from story sharing, to sports, arts, music and even dance lessons. The newest addition to the committee’s cultural celebration is a children’s Parade of Nations. Classrooms from around the county are adopting a country, creating flags and preparing to march in a parade from the heart of the festival to the main stage leading to up to an international presentation by the committee at 12 noon. Children, teachers and classes are encouraged to sign up to participate in the Parade of Nations through the City of Wilson’s Human Relations Office at 399.2308.

Bike Ride

Festivities will begin very early for the participants in the Cyclist of Wilson’s annual bike ride. The bike ride begins at 8 am on the library lawn and will weave through city streets and county roads. Participants can select from a 10 mile ride or the longest stretch – 60 mile ride.
“With all this activity going on, the community can see we need many volunteers,” says Thurston. Any citizen that would like to get involved with the festival or volunteer to help on Saturday or Sunday can contact the Volunteer Action Center at 237-7411. More information about the festival can be found on the festival website at: www.wilsonnc.org/whirligig.