Fall Festival 2001 Promises “Something For Everyone”
By Andie Gibson, Resident Moneta, 24121

     In nine years, Smith Mountain Lake’s Fall Festival has grown from a few vendors and a couple of hundred visitors to a major lake event drawing more than 4,000 people to Saunders Parkway Marina.
     The 10th Anniversary Fall Festival will take place Saturday, Oct. 13 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with organizers hoping to top their record participation last year.
     “It’s taken us awhile to build it up,” said Barbara Barnes, president of the White House Association, which runs the event. “We started out with just a few hundred people. Then we were excited about 1,000. But last year just blew our minds.”
     Barnes said the Festival features “something for everyone” including a flea market, bake sale, arts and crafts vendors, food and drink booths, various children’s games and activities, a “womanless” beauty contest and door prizes. Antique boats, trucks and tractors will also be on display as well as cars owned by members of the Star City Corvette Club and Star City T-birds.
     Live entertainment for the event includes performances by the Smith Mountain Lake Harmeneers an David Owens and Tom Abel.
     Proceeds from the event benefit the Saunders Volunteer Fire Company, the SML Ruritans, Mentow Baptist Church Youth Group, Huddleston Rescue Squad and the White House Association.
     Vendors interested in participating may reserve space ($25) by calling Barnes at 297-2322 before Oct. 6.
 Saunders Parkway Marina is located at the end of Rt. 626 (SML Parkway), past the state park.