onancock harborfest 2011

Onancock Harborfest

September 9-10, 2011
(scroll down for the complete schedule)

They say Labor Day is the traditional start of Autumn, but on Virginia's Eastern Shore, it is Onancock's Harborfest that truly ushers in the fall season.

Friday and Saturday, Sept. 9 and 10, feature a full line-up, starting Friday night with the Second Friday Art Stroll from 5-8 p.m. and music at the wharf by Footloose starting at 7:30 p.m.

Friday night and all day Saturday feature music, great food and drink, and exciting attractions like the 90th Anniversary Celebration at the Historic Onancock School, tours of a U.S. Navy landing craft at the Wharf, the Watershed Walk, and an open air market. For the kids, there will be a rock climbing wall, a crafts tent, and a moon bounce.

Performing during the day on Saturday are local Shore act Stump Hole Water, Micah Gardner's Barstool Sailors from the Florida Keys, and the local bluegrass band Blue Marsh Shoreliners. As night falls, kick up your heels with Nuthin' Fancy.

Blue Marsh ShorelinersBarstool Sailors
Stump Hole WaterFootloose

The Run for Heart 5K Run/Walk sponsored by Riverside Shore Memorial Hospital begins at 8 a.m. at the Historic Onancock School. Upload sponsor and registration forms here, or call 757-414-0178.

Onancock ChallengeBefitting an event focused on Onancock Creek and the Historic Wharf, there are plenty of on-water activities. SouthEast Expeditions will again host its 5K and 10K kayak and canoe race, with a new category for Stand Up Paddleboards, and a Pre-Race Clinic on Friday with Chuck Conley, last year's winner. Upload the Race and Clinic registration form. Call 757-354-4FUN or email mary@southeastexpeditions.com.

The Great Paper Boat Race in the harbor promises to attract the usual crazy boat designs and lots of laughter. Here are the rules and the entry form, and a Great Paper Boat Race update with a registration form. The ever-popular Rubber Duck Race at the Bagwell Bridge will benefit Hospice & Palliative Care of the Eastern Shore.

The Harborfest Boat Bash decorating contest will be held on Saturday, with judging to start at sundown pierside. Prizes will be awarded in 3 decorating categories. Here is the Boat Bash registration form.

Boaters should take notice that the Onancock Boat Ramp will be closed throughout Harborfest. The Onancock Public Boat Ramp will be closed during Harborfest weekend to accommodate the arrival of a 140ft Landing Craft from Assault Craft Unit 2 based at the Naval Amphibious Base, Little Creek, VA. The ramp will be closed down at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 8 and will reopen at 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 11. The craft will be open for general visiting Saturday from 10 a.m–4 p.m.

The antique car show will line Market Street up from the Wharf to the town park, where the popular Watershed Walk returns, accompanied by nautical music by 3 Sheets, featuring Onancock's own Thom Nolan. The Walk has a new theme this year: "From your Shed to our Watershed." Environmental groups and agencies will feature displays that engage children and adults in thinking about how our everyday actions—such as fertilizing our lawn—impacts the water quality of Onancock Creek and the Chesapeake Bay.

In the heart of downtown, the Open Air Market will once again occupy the parking lot next to Market Street Antiques.

Golf cart trolley service will run between the Wharf and Downtown with multiple stops at the major events the parking lots located around town.

Keep an eye out for the new Harborfest tee-shirt and posters for sale. For more details on Harborfest events and schedules, go to www.facebook.com/onancock or call the Town Office at 757-787-3363.

Buy your raffle tickets for the Second Annual Onancock Sampler and the Dine-Onancock Voucher! The Onancock Sampler is a fantastic prize is made up of products and gift certificates donated by our local merchants and has a retail value of over $1100! The  Dine-Onancock Voucher is good for a Dinner for Two (Lunch for 4 at Janet's Cafe) consisting of: Appetizers, Entrees, Desserts, and Non-alcoholic Beverages at each of Onancock's Eight Restaurants ... a value of over $550!

These prizes will be displayed in various businesses around town in the coming weeks and raffle tickets will be sold at these locations and at the Town Office. You can also purchase your tickets for the Onancock Sampler and the Dine-Onancock Voucher at the Information Tent at the Wharf during Harborfest. The drawing will be at 5:30 pm on Saturday.

Contributing businesses include:  Bullfeathers, Corner Bakery, Crockett's Gallery, Dawn, Fletcher D. Fosque, DDS, gardenArt on King Street, great space ETC., Hart Construction, Jack Richardson Gallery, C D Marsh Jewelers, Market Street Antiques, North Street Market, North Street Playhouse, Purls, The Red Queen Gallery, Roseland Theater, Runninger’s Pharmacy, Shore Electronics Inc, SouthEast Expeditions, Studio Helene, Timothy Smith & Sons Antiques, Walmart,  YMCA, Barracuda Pub, Bizzotto's Gallery-Cafe, The Blarney Stone Pub, The Carven Board, The Charlotte Hotel, Inn and Garden Cafe, Mallard's at the Wharf, and Janet's Cafe at the Onancock General Store.

FULL SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011
8:00 am - noon: Kayak Clinic: Racing Strategy
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm: Kayak Clinic: Forward Stroke
5:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Second Friday Art Stroll
Beginning at 6:00 pm: Food and Beverage Vendors @ Wharf
7:30 pm - 11:00 pm: Concert by "Footloose"

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2011
Throughout Day: Exhibits & Food and Beverage Vendors at Wharf
8:00 am: Run for Heart 5K Walk/Run (from Onancock School)
9:00 am: Onancock Challenge Canoe/Kayak/Sup Races
9:00 am - 2:00 pm: Antique Car Show
9:00 am - 4:00 pm: Open Air Market at Ames and Market Sts.
10:00 am: Critter Parade
10:00 am - 4:00 pm: Navy Landing Craft Tours
10:00 am - 4:00 pm: Tours of Historic (c.1799) Ker Place & Special Civil War Exhibit
10:00 am - 4:00 pm: Kids Crafts & Face Painting Tent
10:00 am - 4:00 pm: Watershed Walk at Town Gazebo Park
10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Rock Wall, Moon Bounce, Slip 'n Slide
10:00 am - 5:00 pm: Historic Onancock School 90th Anniversary Celebration
11:00 am: Horseshoe Tournament
11:30 am: Great Big Paper Boat Race
Noon: Awards Ceremony for Races and Art Poster
12:15 pm - 2:45 pm: Concert by "Stump Hole Water"
3:00 pm: Hospice Rubber Duck Race
3:15 pm - 5:30 pm: Concert by "Blue Marsh Shoreliners"
5:30 pm: Raffle Drawings for "Onancock Sampler" & "Dine Onancock Voucher"
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm: Concert by Micah the "Barstool Sailor"
8:00 pm - 11:30 pm: Concert by "Nuthin' Fancy"

onancock harborfestonancock harborfest
onancock harborfestonancock harborfest

Photos by BurnhamVirginia.com


Onancock VA