Service done, fundraisers planned, Halloween underway

October is full of events in Dickenson County. Make sure you go out and enjoy what our county has to offer.

The Annual Ghost Walk presented by Cumberland Clinch Collective was a big hit again this year. A large group of people enjoyed the walk through town and hearing all the hair-raising ghost stories. Thanks to Dora Wallace and her team for all the work in getting this event organized.

The Chamber and Tourism Department welcomed volunteers from Southwest Virginia Community College last week for the Eagle Project – Day of Service. We had volunteers from SWCC, Ridgeview High School, Dickenson County Tourism and Chamber doing yard work and planting our Nature LOVE garden beside our LOVEworks Sign at the Visitor Center. This garden project was a result of a grant from “Keep Virginia Beautiful” awarded to Rita Surratt, tourism director, Dickenson County Chamber. Thanks to everyone who came out and made our visitor center look much better.

Paddlers from across the United States as well as international visitors enjoyed the white water releases from John Flannagan Dam the past two weekends, floating down through the gorge at the Breaks Interstate Park on our Virginia Scenic Russell Fork River. If you haven’t gone to watch as the colorful kayaks come down through the gorge, you are missing out on an exciting sight.

The Dickenson County Chamber will be holding its annual membership banquet on Nov. 15 at the Breaks Interstate Park. The dinner will begin at 6:30 p.m. and entertainment this year will be a great band “Blast from the Past” featuring songs from the 50’s through 80’s and Elvis will make an appearance. Tickets are $20 each and must be bought in advance. Close off date is Nov. 10. We will also be doing our silent auction with some great items including a flat screen TV. For more information, give us a call at 276-926-6074 or email chambertourism18@gmail.com.

If you are interested in starting a new business or expanding an existing business, give us a call and we can set you up an appointment with the coordinator at the Small Business Center at our local community colleges. The meeting will be right here in Clintwood at the Chamber of Commerce.

If you have events you would like to promote, send them to us. For more information, give us a call at 276-926-6074 or email chambertourism18@gmail.com.

What’s Happening Events – Chamber & Tourism

• Jettie Baker Center on Main Street in Clintwood features Halloween: Face Your Fate on 10/31/19 (Thursday) at 10 p.m. with an appearance by Mr. Myers himself. Advance ticket are on sale until 10/31 to ensure there is a big enough crowd to show the movie at 10 p.m. Tickets for all ages are $5 each. Concessions available at all showings. For more information, see FB @ JettieBakerCenter.

• Saturdays, through October: Elk Tours @ Breaks Interstate Park. Cost - $20 children 12 and under, all others $35 per person. Reservation required. For tickets or more information, call Breaks Interstate Park at 276-865-4413, extensions 3201 or 3213.

• White Water Rafting: Water is being released during the first four weekends in October to create from Class 2 to Class 6 rapids – World Class Whitewater – on the Russell Fork River from Flannagan Dam through the Breaks Gorge.

• Online Bass Fishing Tournament 10/1-31/19 sponsored by Spearhead Trails - $20 Buy-in. (Multi-county and multi-river event). Proceeds benefit Spearhead Trailblazers. For more information, call or see FB @spearheadtrails or www.spearheadtrails.com.

• 10/1 – 10/29/19 (Tuesdays) 5 – 8 p.m. – Barn Quilt Workshop Series hosted by Dickenson County Virginia Cooperative Extension. Learn how to create your own barn quilt while supporting Dickenson County 4H and tourism. Register by 9/24/19 to save your spot. Contact Kelly Rose at 276-926-4605. Supplies provided – Cost $50 for 2x2 and $100 for 4x4.

• 10/18-10/19 (Friday/Saturday), Halloween Spooktacular at Breaks Interstate Park. This event includes campsite decorating contest, costume contest, campground trick or treating and more. For more information, call 276-865-4413 or www.breakspark.com.

• Haunted House 10/18-19 (Friday/Saturday), Haysi Kiwanis Park, 7 p.m. each night. $5 entry fee. Fundraiser for Ridgeview High School senior trip and Dickenson County Fair. Enter if you dare.

• 10/19/19 (Saturday) 6 – 9 p.m. – Witches Ball hosted by Cumberland Clinch Collective and Dickenson County Community Partners for Prevention. To be held at the Behavioral Health Rec Center in Happy Valley Industrial Park in Clintwood. Admission: Adults, $5; Students 17 and under, $3. Food, games, contests, prizes, music and fun are included in the admission’s cost.

• Russell Fork Rendezvous 10/24/19 (Thursday) 12 p.m. – 10/27/19 (Sunday) 5 p.m. at the Haysi Kiwanis Park. Hosted by Russell Fork Rendezvous and Bluegrass Wildwater Association. A weekend of camping, paddling, kayaking, hiking, biking, entertainment and other services. Admission - $25 pre-sale or $30 cash price at the gate. Proceeds benefit American Whitewater. For more information: www.russellforkrendezvous.com.

• 10/26/19 (Saturday) 7:30 – 10:30 p.m. – Tuesday’s Gone (the Ultimate Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band) Concert at the Jettie Baker Center in Clintwood. Sponsored by the Clinchco Kiwanis Club. Advance ticket sales only are $20. Contact J.R. Robinson at 276-202-5704 for tickets. All proceeds benefit Clinchco Kiwanis programs.

• 10/26 (Saturday) Pike County Extension’s “Homemaking in the Mountains” annual craft event held at Breaks Interstate Park in the Rhododendron Conference Center.

• Fall Festival and Halloween in the Park at the McClure Little League Baseball field, sponsored by McClure Kiwanis Club, on Wednesday, Oct. 30. Costume contest registration is 4-6:30 p.m., with prizes for all ages. Treats will begin at 5 p.m. Event ends at 8 p.m.

• 10/31/19 Halloween Festival- Town of Clintwood and Dickenson Community Hospital, Clintwood Football Field, 5pm – Halloween Costume Contest, Candy, Haunted House $7.00 teen and above, $5.00 12 and under. Face Your Fate playing at the Jettie Baker Center in Clintwood beginning at 10pm, Admission $5.00.

• 11/2/19 (Saturday) 7 - 9 p.m. – Larry Sparks & The Lonesome Ramblers Concert @ the Jettie Baker Center in Clintwood. Tickets $20 per person and can be purchased at Clintwood Town Hall, the Ralph Stanley Museum, or online at www.meccfoundation.org/dcevent. All proceeds benefit the MECC Foundation’s Dickenson County Endowed Scholarship. For more information contact the MECC Foundation, 276-523-7466 or email: foundation@mecc.edu.

• 11/9/19 (Saturday) 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., the second annual Holiday Craft Fair at Ervinton Elementary School. Rent tables for $10 each and you keep all the profits. Open to craft vendors, food vendors, bake sales and independent business owners. To reserve a table call the school at 276-835-8423.

• Dickenson County Chamber’s annual membership banquet & silent auction 11/15/19 (Friday) 6:30-10 p.m. at Breaks Interstate Park Conference Center. Music will be performed by “Blast from the Past.” Tickets are $20 each and must be purchased in advance. For more information or tickets call 276-926-6074. This is the chamber's event of the year.

• 11/15 - 11/16 (Friday/Saturday) Annual Russell Fork Bluegrass Show at the Breaks Interstate Park. Friday – Jam Session. Saturday – Performances by Russell More, Illrd Tyme Out, Dave Adkins Band and Remington Ryde. General Admission, $25. Lodging, meals and show packages available. For more information & reservations, call 276-865-4413 or www.breakspark.com.

• 12/6/19 (Friday) – Haysi Annual Christmas Parade on Main Street in Haysi. For more information, contact Town of Haysi @ 276-865-5187 or FB@HaysiPartners.

• 12/7 (Saturday) – Annual Brunch with Santa at the Breaks Interstate Park in the Rhododendron Restaurant.

Rita Surratt is president of the Dickenson County Chamber and tourism director for Dickenson County.