Collegiate Times

Smithfield Plantation is hosting an Independence Day celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., ending just in time for Blacksburg's parade.

This is an improvement over last year, when the times at Smithfield overlapped with the parade.

"This year we're making more of an effort to work with the town," said Chance Hellmann, event coordinator at Smithfield.

Smithfield will remain open the rest of the day, but the main events will be going on from the 10 a.m to 2 p.m. timeslot.

Coming out to the grounds is free, and everyone is welcome to bring their own picnics.

Free drinks will be provided by Ukrops and food will be available for sale from Log Cabin Barbeque and a Snow Cone mobile.

Blue grass music will hopefully be playing throughout the afternoon, but as of Tuesday, the band wasn't confirmed.

There will be a reduced price on house tours for the day, down to $4 from the usual $7 for adult admission.

A special exhibit covering the Fourth of July through the ages has been set up in the museum store for the occasion.

A wide variety of historical demonstrators will be present displaying various crafts and answering questions.

The Junior Guild will be present both at Smithfield and later at the parade.

The Junior Guild is a group of kids aged eleven to sixteen with an interest in history.

They will be teaching colonial games and dances throughout the day.

There will also be a group of very knowledgeable Revolutionary demonstrators present.

They will be dressed in the full attire of either the militia or regular soldiers of the Revolutionary War. These actors are well versed in what the life of a soldier was like in revolutionary times.

Their knowledge includes the clothing they wore and battles they fought in. The soldiers will be going through a muster, roll call, and then firing throughout the afternoon, as well as answering questions.

A mock Civil War surgeon will also be there, talking about the tools and the technical level of medicine during the Civil War.

There will be a spinning demonstration on the porch of the plantation, and there is the possibility of a weaving demonstration also.

Jimmy Price, an expert on old fashioned milling, will be around to talk all about millstones, and there will be a corn grinding demonstration, as well.

Smithfield's plan for the holiday is, "Celebrating our country's birthday in colonial fashion," Hellmann said.

Everyone at Smithfield is looking forward to celebrating Independence Day with the people of Blacksburg.