Summer is finally here in Blacksburg, and the community is more than ready for it.
A highlight of summer is the Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival. The Festival is a joint effort by Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg that began in 1991, as a way to celebrate summer and unite the whole community of Blacksburg.
The goal of the Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival is to give the community a chance to experience many different artistic expressions from around the world. It is a way to bring diversity and creativity to the community.
The producer of the Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival is Jane Harrison. She has been involved with the festival for the past 18 years
The Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival is "truly a gift from Virginia Tech and the Town of Blacksburg, one that helps unite the summer students, the professors, the residents, and visitors to create that true small town community feel," Harrison said. To her, Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival is about creating that unique community and enjoying family-fun arts.
The Festival includes all ranges of art from theater productions, concerts, films, and even art galleries.
Friday night concerts
Located on the Drillfield every Friday from 6:00-7:30 will be free concerts. The lineup includes everything from a steel drum orchestra to bluegrass to jazz to show tunes.
Theatre productions
This year the Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival will host and present "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?" The play was written by Tomb McCabe and directed by Michael Anthony Williams.
Free movies
The Lyric will host three classic movies this summer. They are free to the public and include "Singin' in the Rain," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," and "Vertigo."
Art showcases
Through the whole summer, both the Amory Gallery and the Perspective Gallery will be open to the public and showcasing local artists. Also, there will be special events like the Summer Solstice Fest (June 20), Independence Day Celebration (July 4), Art along the Ally (July 17 and 18), and Stepping out Street Festival (August 7 and 8). All are free and open to the public.
The kickoff for the Blacksburg Summer Arts Festival is this Friday night on the Drillfield for a concert at 6:00 p.m. by Gerry Timlin, a musician who plays Irish, Canadian, American, and Australian folk music.
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