Strasburg Mayfest returns to kick off long weekend
Below is an article that appeared in the Northern Virginia Daily on June 30th, 2021.
STRASBURG — After taking a year off, Strasburg Mayfest is back for a two-day extravaganza planned for Independence Day weekend.
The family-friendly festival in downtown Strasburg will be held Friday and Saturday, followed by the town's July Fourth event on Sunday, said Olivia Hilton, the town’s interim director of community development.
Organized by the Strasburg Business Alliance under the umbrella of the Shenandoah County Chamber of Commerce, the festival will feature various artisans, musicians, food vendors, a kids' zone, a petting zoo, a duck race and a parade.
On Friday, activities will include the annual Heels & Hops Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. at the Box Office Brewery for $35, and a free concert by Cazhmiere, 6:30-9:30 p.m. at Strasburg Square.
On Saturday, events will include a 4:30 p.m. duck race at the Strasburg Pavilion with ticket sales from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
South Holliday Street Entertainment with Circa Blue will perform 1-4 p.m. and The Virginians 5-8 p.m.
The Mayfest Parade will march along King Street starting at 4 p.m.
Also on Saturday, the Strasburg Museum will be open and offering demonstrations with free admission from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
The Five Alarm Fun KidsZone will be open on North Holliday Street 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
Arts and crafts vendors will be in Strasburg Square and Pavilion from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and food trucks will be on South Holliday Street from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Mayfest is normally a three-day event, Hilton said, but it is two days this year to accommodate the town’s July 4 celebration, which includes a pool party at the town pool and a fireworks display at dusk.
Mayfest, as its name suggests, typically takes place in May, and Abby Walters, chairperson of the Mayfest committee, said their intentions are to return it to the third weekend of May in future years.
She said the COVID-19 pandemic, which canceled last year’s event, also postponed this year’s event.
Because of the timing of the festival, she said attendees will notice some changes.
“The carnival that normally comes was not available,” Walters said.
Also, the arts and crafts vendors who normally set up on King Street were moved to Strasburg Square because of the expectation of increased traffic along King Street during the holiday weekend.
King Street runs along U.S. 11 through town, and the highway is an alternate route for the Virginia Department of Transportation and emergency vehicles if there are problems on Interstate 81.
Otherwise, Walters said, the festival is pretty close to what annual attendees will expect.
Hilton said this year’s festival is the result of massive cooperation among various entities, including the town’s Public Works Department and Police Department, which are especially challenged since Mayfest is taking place over the July 4 weekend.
For more information about this year’s festival, visit strasburgmayfest.org or call 540-459-2542.
Contact Josette Keelor at jkeelor@nvdaily.com
